The total number of state employees in Cyprus reached 55,162 in June 2026, according to the latest figures from the statistical service, Cystat. This figure represents an increase of 333 employees, or 0.6 per cent, compared to June 2025, when the workforce numbered 54,829.
- Despite this, hourly paid workers in security forces saw a notable increase of 13.3 per cent, rising from 750 to 850, marking the second-largest percentage increase among all categories.
While the overall state workforce grew, the civil service experienced a decline of 1.2 per cent, with 23,096 employees recorded, down from 23,366 a year earlier. Similarly, the security forces saw a marginal decrease of 0.1 per cent, employing 13,731 individuals compared to 13,749 in June 2025.
State workforce: Growth in Educational Sector
In contrast, the educational service noted significant growth, with a 3.5 per cent increase leading to 18,335 employees, up from 17,714 the previous year. This rise was predominantly driven by increases in both indefinite-duration and fixed-term contracts.
Trends Among Employment Categories
Permanent employees continued to dominate the state workforce, with their numbers rising slightly from 32,813 to 32,852, an increase of 0.1 per cent. Employees with contracts of indefinite duration also rose by 1.2 per cent, reaching 9,544, compared to 9,431 in June 2025. The most notable rise was among those on fixed-term contracts, which saw a 2.9 per cent increase from 5,835 to 6,007.
Meanwhile, the number of hourly paid workers increased marginally by 0.1 per cent, from 6,750 to 6,759. None of the four main employment categories – permanent, indefinite-duration, fixed-term, or hourly paid – recorded a decline when compared to June 2025.
Civil Service Dynamics
Within the civil service, the number of permanent employees fell by 0.6 per cent from 11,943 to 11,872. Those with indefinite-duration contracts saw a more considerable reduction of 3 per cent, dropping from 4,139 to 4,015. On a brighter note, civil servants on fixed-term contracts increased by 1.4 per cent, rising from 1,429 to 1,449, although hourly paid workers within this sector decreased by 1.6 per cent, from 5,855 to 5,760.
Educational Service Achievements
The educational sector experienced the strongest overall growth, largely due to an increase in employees with indefinite-duration contracts, which surged by 24.7 per cent from 951 to 1,186. Fixed-term employees in education also rose by 9.8 per cent, reaching 4,557, while hourly paid workers increased by 2.8 per cent from 145 to 149.
Security Forces Employment Changes
In the security forces, permanent employment rose by 1.6 per cent, from 8,403 to 8,537. The number of employees with indefinite-duration contracts remained largely unchanged, increasing slightly from 4,341 to 4,343. However, a sharp decline occurred within the fixed-term contract category, dropping from 255 in June 2025 to just one employee in June 2026, a staggering decrease of 99.6 per cent. Cystat attributed this reduction to the completion and non-renewal of specific fixed-term contracts in July 2025.
Despite this, hourly paid workers in security forces saw a notable increase of 13.3 per cent, rising from 750 to 850, marking the second-largest percentage increase among all categories.
Half-Year Employment Trends
From January to June 2026, the average number of state employees rose by 0.2 per cent compared to the same six-month period in 2025. However, average civil service employment fell by 1 per cent. Notably, permanent employees decreased by 0.5 per cent, while those with indefinite-duration contracts fell by 3 per cent, and hourly paid workers decreased by 1.1 per cent. Fixed-term employment in this sector increased by 1.4 per cent.
For the educational service, average employment saw a rise of 2 per cent, with a substantial increase of 24.8 per cent in indefinite-duration contracts. Fixed-term employees rose by 3.3 per cent, and hourly paid workers increased by 2.7 per cent. Conversely, average employment in the security forces remained unchanged overall, although permanent and hourly paid employment rose by 1.7 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively, while fixed-term employment declined dramatically by 88.9 per cent.
