The total number of state employees in Cyprus reached 55,382 in May 2026, according to figures released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) on Thursday, representing a slight increase compared with the same month a year earlier.

The latest data showed that the total state workforce increased by 77 employees, equivalent to 0.1 per cent, when compared with May 2025.

Employment in the civil service fell by 1.2 per cent, while the educational service and the security forces recorded increases of 1.4 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.

Compared with May 2025, the largest increase among employment categories was registered among staff with contracts of indefinite duration, which rose by 2.1 per cent.

The only category to record a decline was that of employees on fixed-term contracts, where numbers fell by 3.1 per cent.

Within the individual services, the strongest increase was observed among employees with indefinite-duration contracts in the educational service, where staffing rose by 24.7 per cent.

The sharpest decline was recorded among employees with fixed-term contracts in the security forces, with numbers dropping by 89.8 per cent.

According to Cystat, the steep fall mainly reflects the completion and non-renewal of certain temporary contracts in July 2025.

For the period from January to May 2026, the average number of state employees increased by 0.2 per cent compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

The latest figures come amid a broader debate over the state wage bill, with public servants’ union Pasydy this week rejecting suggestions that personnel costs are rising uncontrollably.

The union said projections included in finance ministry budget circulars form part of the normal budget preparation process and should not be interpreted as evidence of unsustainable spending growth.

Addressing the issue of the cost-of-living allowance (CoLA), Pasydy said a permanent agreement had recently been reached between the government and social partners for the gradual restoration of the mechanism.

The union argued that the agreement had helped restore stability and balance to labour relations, while also introducing safeguards.

These include the activation of CoLA only when inflation growth in the previous year is positive and a 4 per cent cap on the annual increase used in calculating the allowance.

Pasydy also pointed out that the last general salary increase for public servants took effect on January 1, 2009, with no across-the-board increases granted since then.

According to the union, future discussions on general pay rises will depend on economic and fiscal developments and would need to remain within the state’s financial capabilities.

“Anything else that is being written falls within the realm of misinformation,” the union said.