Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded 63 occupations with labour shortages and 11 with labour surpluses in 2024, according to the EURES Labour Shortages and Surpluses Report 2025. The report highlighted persistent gaps across technology, tourism and healthcare, while separate figures pointed to lower hotel occupancy in Paphos and stronger banking activity in May 2026.
Labour shortages and surpluses
The report, published on Monday, showed that labour shortages in Cyprus covered a broad range of professions, with the most severe gaps concentrated in healthcare and digital technology roles.
Among the most affected occupations were nurses, midwives, information and communications technology sales professionals, systems analysts, software and applications developers, web and multimedia developers, medical imaging technicians, waiters and bus drivers.
It also recorded moderate shortages in roles linked to tourism, retail and construction, including restaurant managers, retail and wholesale managers, accountants, electricians, electronics and mechanical technicians, chefs, shop sales assistants and cashiers.
Shortages were also identified in construction and industrial trades, including builders, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians, welders, heavy goods vehicle drivers, cleaners, and workers in agriculture, livestock, fisheries and construction-related services.
Paphos tourism occupancy
Hotel occupancy in Paphos has fallen sharply compared with last year, with the city and district recording rates around 20 per cent lower than the corresponding period of 2025, according to hoteliers association Pasyxe president Thanos Michaelides.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Michaelides said hotels and other tourist accommodation in Paphos would normally expect occupancy levels above 90 per cent during the peak summer months of June, July and August.
This year, occupancy is closer to 70 per cent, leaving what he described as a sizeable gap during what is usually one of the strongest periods for the district’s tourism industry.
Although bookings have shown some improvement, particularly through last-minute reservations, Michaelides said “the increase has not been enough to bring the market back to normal seasonal levels.”
Banking sector figures
Cyprus’ banking sector recorded higher deposits and stronger lending in May 2026, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Cyprus covering deposits and loans at monetary financial institutions.
