Broad public sector employment rose by 1.8% year-on-year, driven heavily by a major hiring expansion within newly restructured District Local Government Organisations.

Public Sector Staffing Breakdown

Total employment in the Broad Public Sector in the 1st quarter of 2026 reached 78,388 persons, according to data published on Monday by the Statistical Service.

General Government employment reached 73,236 persons, while Publicly Owned Enterprises and Companies accounted for 5,152 persons. General Government is further broken down into three core sub-sectors:

• State Employees: 55,354 persons

• Non-Profit Organisations: 11,476 persons

• Local Authorities: 6,406 persons

Year-on-Year Growth Dynamics

Compared to the same quarter of 2025, employment in the Broad Public Sector increased by 1,354 persons (1.8%).

Employment in Central Government grew by 339 persons (0.5%), while Publicly Owned Enterprises and Companies expanded by 190 persons (3.8%). The most dramatic change occurred in Local Authorities, where headcount increased by 825 persons (14.8%). The Statistical Service notes that this surge is mainly attributed to a 55.2% hiring increase in District Local Government Organisations, which added 512 persons.

Quarter-on-Quarter Variations

When compared to the 4th quarter of 2025, employment in the Broad Public Sector saw a modest increase of 264 persons (0.3%).

Headcount ticks upward across all three tracking categories: Central Government rose by 49 persons (0.1%), Local Authorities increased by 181 persons (2.9%), and Publicly Owned Enterprises and Companies grew by 34 persons (0.7%).

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)