Eurostat reports on employment and unemployment trends in Cyprus and the EU

According to recent Eurostat data, the EU employment rate for persons aged 20-64 reached 76.3% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 76.2% in the previous quarter. Cyprus was among the countries with the highest growth in employment, recording a 0.4 percentage point increase. Labour market slack in the EU decreased slightly to 10.9% in the first quarter of 2026. Separately, Eurostat reported that Cyprus' unemployment rate for those aged 15-74 dropped to 4.4% in 2025, down from 4.9% in 2024. This remains well below the EU average, which saw a marginal increase from 5.9% in 2024 to 6.0% in 2025. Sources differ slightly on the specific unemployment rankings; some reports cite Spain, Finland, and Greece as having the highest rates at 8.9% to 10.5%, while others highlight discrepancies in long-term unemployment figures across member states. Education levels were identified as a significant factor in unemployment, with low-skilled workers facing higher risks.