Cyprus’ government employment increased by 461 people in January 2025, a rise of 0.8 per cent, compared to January 2024, reaching a total of 55,107 employees.

This growth was primarily driven by an increase in employment within the education service.

According to the statistical service, employment in the public and educational services grew by 0.4 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.

In contrast, employment in the security forces declined by 1.6 per cent.

As of January 2025, the public service employed 12,003 permanent employees, 4,173 fixed-term contract workers, 1,353 temporary contract workers, and 5,685 hourly-paid staff.

Compared to January 2024, the number of permanent employees increased by 2 per cent, while fixed-term contract workers decreased by 6.8 per cent.

The number of temporary contract workers increased by 10.2 per cent, and hourly-paid staff declined by 1.2 per cent.

Permanent employees made up the largest proportion of the public service workforce at 51.7 per cent, while temporary contract workers accounted for the smallest share at 5.8 per cent.

In the education service, 12,456 permanent employees, 953 fixed-term contract workers, 4,641 temporary contract workers, and 141 hourly-paid staff were employed.

As reported by the statistical service, the largest proportion of employees in the education service were permanent employees, comprising 68.5 per cent, while hourly-paid staff made up just 0.8 per cent.

In the security forces, 8,273 permanent employees, 4,400 fixed-term contract workers, 291 temporary contract workers, and 738 hourly-paid employees were employed.

As in other sectors, the largest proportion of employees in the security forces were permanent staff at 60.4 per cent, with temporary contract workers forming the smallest group at 2.1 per cent.