The total number of state employees in Cyprus reached 53,747 in July 2026, an increase of 300 employees, or 0.6%, compared with July 2025, according to data released by CySTAT.
The increase was driven mainly by the Educational Service, where employment rose by 2.6%, while the number of employees in the Security Forces increased by 0.7%. Employment in the Civil Service, however, declined by 1%.
Over the first seven months of the year, the average number of state employees increased by 0.3% compared with the corresponding period of 2025.
Increase in indefinite-term employees
The number of employees on indefinite-term contracts increased by 1.7% year-on-year, from 9,348 in July 2025 to 9,509 in July 2026.
The largest percentage increase was recorded in the Educational Service, where the number of employees on indefinite-term contracts rose by 25.7%, from 921 to 1,158. The category increased by 0.8% in the Security Forces, while it declined by 2.7% in the Civil Service.
The number of permanent employees rose marginally by 0.3%, reaching 32,935 from 32,837 a year earlier. Employees on definite-term contracts increased by 1.1% in July, reaching 4,578, while the number of hourly paid workers remained broadly stable, declining marginally by 0.1% to 6,725.
Educational Service drives increase
The increase in state employment was largely linked to the rise recorded in the Educational Service. Total employment in the sector increased by 427 employees year-on-year, reaching 16,928 in July from 16,501 a year earlier.
The number of permanent employees remained broadly unchanged, declining by 0.2% to 12,444 from 12,470. The strongest increase was recorded among employees on indefinite-term contracts, whose number rose by 237, or 25.7%, to 1,158. Employees on definite-term contracts also increased, by 7.3%, from 2,965 to 3,181.
Civil Service employment falls
In contrast, employment in the Civil Service declined by 1%, with the number of employees falling by 230 to 22,978 from 23,208 in July 2025. Permanent employees declined by 0.7%, while employees on indefinite-term contracts fell by 2.7% and hourly paid workers by 2.1%.
The only category to record an increase was employees on definite-term contracts, whose number rose by 6.4%, from 1,312 to 1,396.
Security Forces up 0.7%
Employment in the Security Forces increased by 103 employees, or 0.7%, reaching 13,841 in July 2026. Permanent employees increased by 2.4%, while employees on indefinite-term contracts rose by 0.8%. Hourly paid workers recorded a more substantial increase of 15.2%. The number of employees on definite-term contracts fell by 99.6%, from 250 in July 2025 to just one in July 2026.
According to CySTAT, the sharp decline is mainly attributed to the completion and non-renewal of specific definite-term contracts from August 2025 onwards. The decrease therefore does not reflect a general contraction in employment across the Security Forces.
(Source: CNA)
