Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ total number of state employees reached 55,571 in April 2026, with overall public sector employment up 0.1% year-on-year, according to Cystat. Total state employment increased by 81 employees compared with April 2025.
Changes by service
Cystat reported that employment in the civil service declined by 1% on an annual basis. Employment in the educational service increased by 1.7%, while staffing levels in the security forces remained unchanged compared with April 2025.
Contract types
The largest increase among employment categories was recorded in employees with contracts of indefinite duration, which rose by 1.8% year-on-year. Employees with contracts of definite duration recorded the steepest decline, falling by 2.3% compared with the same month last year.
Breakdown by service category
The educational service recorded the largest increase in indefinite-duration employment, with the number of such employees rising by 24.8%. The sharpest decline was recorded among employees with contracts of definite duration in the security forces, where employment fell by 86.9% year-on-year.
Reason for security forces decline
Cystat said the substantial decrease in definite-duration contracts within the security forces was mainly linked to the completion and non-renewal of specific contracts in July 2025.
January to April average
For the period between January and April 2026, the average total number of state employees increased by 0.2% compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
What do you think the reported shifts in contract types indicate about public sector hiring trends in Cyprus?