Cyprus employers report skills mismatch and hiring imbalances in national survey

The first National Employers Survey (CYEmployers), conducted by PwC Cyprus in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, was published on November 9, 2026. The study, which collected data between May 24, 2024, and January 10, 2025, highlights a paradox in the Cypriot labor market: while many graduates are being hired for positions beneath their qualifications, employers simultaneously struggle to fill vacancies due to a lack of specific skills.

The findings are based on 1,395 valid responses from the private sector—selected from a target population of 29,567 organizations—and 221 senior public sector officials. In the private sector, 71% of companies reported difficulty filling vacancies. Furthermore, 34% of private employers and 58% of public sector officials confirmed hiring university graduates for roles that do not formally require a degree, indicating a misalignment between educational attainment and actual job requirements.

This research, commissioned by the Ministry of Education, highlights concerns regarding the limited attractiveness of certain professions and the inefficient utilization of the workforce's skills. The data was weighted to reflect the overall workforce, providing a comprehensive overview of the current structural challenges facing the local labor market.