The “Preliminary Results Report of the first cycle of the National Graduate Monitoring Survey of Higher Education in Cyprus (2022)” reveals a pressing need to understand emerging skills and refine the labor market's intelligence. This timely research stems from the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Cyprus, bringing to light significant trends shaping Cyprus' higher education and employment landscape.

In the realm of education, traditional teaching methods remain the primary mode of instruction for many graduates. In fact, the majority have experienced an education heavily steeped in these methods, with only a sparse engagement in non-traditional approaches. Despite this, international experiences, which often offer diverse learning opportunities, seem to be limited in their academic journey. A mere 15% of graduates ventured beyond national borders for such programs. Nonetheless, a silver lining is that graduates overwhelmingly expressed satisfaction with their studies.th surveyed groups felt that their educational qualifications outweighed the requirements of their current jobs.

Transitioning to the workforce, many graduates experienced a relatively seamless integration. From the older 2016/17 cohort, 90% found their footing in the labor market, while the 2020/21 group wasn't far behind at 82%. A vast majority, over 90% of these Cypriot graduates, preferred to work within Cyprus itself. However, European degree holders opting to work in Cyprus observed an uptick from 7% to 13%. On the flip side, the percentages of Cypriots and non-Europeans who stayed in Cyprus post their tertiary education saw a decrease of 3% and 4% respectively.

Diving deeper into employment details, the private sector seemed to be the most attractive to graduates, although some explored opportunities in the public sector as well. Job security is also evident, with over 70% being offered permanent contracts. As for remuneration, there’s a disparity between the older and younger graduates. The former group averages an annual salary of €20,400, while the latter earns around €16,800. This difference is further accentuated by a gender wage gap, with men consistently out-earning women across both groups. Interestingly, graduates from 2016/17 faced a longer wait before landing their first job compared to the 2020/21 group.

The allure of international careers has been moderate. About 9% of the older graduates and 10% of the newer ones have been enticed by opportunities abroad. It’s worth noting that male graduates showed a higher inclination towards such global prospects, especially among the newer cohort.

Lastly, one of the survey's more concerning findings is the sentiment of overqualification. Roughly 46% from both surveyed groups felt that their educational qualifications outweighed the requirements of their current jobs.