According to new data from the Cyprus Statistical Service (CYSTAT), 12,930 job vacancies were available in the Cyprus labour market in the second quarter of 2026. This was 3,123 positions, or 19.5%, fewer than in the second quarter of 2025, when there were 16,053 vacancies. Compared with the first quarter of 2026, the number of available jobs also declined — by 975 vacancies, or 7%. The job vacancy rate stood at 2.6%, compared with 2.8% in the previous quarter and 3.3% a year earlier.
It should be noted that the job vacancy rate reflects the share of vacant positions in the total number of occupied and vacant jobs. The statistics cover enterprises with 1 or more employees in almost all sectors of the economy, with the exception of agriculture, forestry and fishing, activities of households, and extraterritorial organisations.
Which sectors in Cyprus have the most vacancies
The highest share of vacant positions in the second quarter of 2026 was recorded in accommodation and food service activities — 4.6%. This was followed by transportation and storage — 3.5%, as well as administrative and support service activities — 3.5%. In absolute numbers, the sectors with the largest number of vacancies were:
- hotels and food service businesses — 2,827 vacancies;
- wholesale and retail trade — 2,286;
- construction — 1,330;
- professional, scientific and technical activities — 874;
- transportation and storage — 859;
- manufacturing — 854;
- administrative and support service activities — 789;
- public administration, defence and compulsory social security — 665;
- human health and social work activities — 572.
The trend in the construction sector is particularly noticeable. In the second quarter of 2026, there were 1,330 vacancies compared with 897 a year earlier. This represents an annual increase of 48.3%. At the same time, compared with the first quarter of 2026, when there were 1,997 vacancies, the figure fell by 33.4%. There were 859 vacancies in transportation, 874 in professional, scientific and technical activities, and 854 in manufacturing.
Where vacancies have fallen significantly
One of the most noticeable declines occurred in telecommunications, programming, computer consultancy, computing infrastructure and other information service activities. Over the year, the number of vacancies in this area fell by 37.1% — from 701 in the second quarter of 2025 to 441 in the second quarter of 2026. Financial and insurance activities recorded 398 vacancies, while real estate activities had 41 compared with 61 a year earlier, corresponding to a decline of 32.8%.
The number of vacancies in arts, sports and entertainment fell even more sharply. In the second quarter of 2026, there were only 162 vacancies compared with 455 a year earlier and 547 in the first quarter of 2026. This represents an annual decline of 64.4%. In public administration, defence and compulsory social security, the number of vacancies fell by 40.9% to 665. In education, there were 267 vacancies, 43.8% fewer than a year earlier.
Which sectors have almost no vacancies left
The smallest number of vacant positions in the second quarter of 2026 was recorded in several sectors. No vacancies at all were registered in mining and quarrying. For comparison, there had been 21 a year earlier and 3 in the first quarter of 2026. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply had just 11 vacancies compared with 17 a year earlier. In water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, by contrast, the number of vacant positions increased to 85 compared with 58 in the second quarter of 2025 and 48 in the first quarter of 2026.
Overall, the statistics show that the Cyprus labour market became less tight in the second quarter of 2026 in terms of the number of open vacancies. However, demand for workers remains noticeable in key sectors of the economy, particularly accommodation and food services, construction, trade and transportation.