Cyprus releases first national employer survey on labor market skills gap

The Cypriot Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth has released the results of the first National Employer Survey (CYEmployers/NESS 2023), conducted in collaboration with PwC Cyprus. The study, which collected data between May 24, 2024, and January 10, 2025, highlights a significant mismatch between the skills of the workforce and the actual needs of the labor market. The survey involved a stratified random sample of 12,840 private sector organizations, with 1,395 valid responses, and 221 senior officials from the public sector.

Findings reveal a paradox in the Cypriot labor market: while a large portion of the workforce holds higher education degrees, employers struggle to find staff with the specific skills required for available positions. Consequently, many graduates are hired for roles below their qualification level, while other employees possess skill sets that exceed current job demands. The report identifies this issue as a combination of a lack of specific skills, poor job attractiveness in certain sectors, and an overall misalignment between academic qualifications and professional requirements. The study serves as a diagnostic tool for the Ministry to address these systemic educational and workforce challenges.