A new EURES report reveals that Cyprus is facing labour shortages across 63 occupations, heavily impacting healthcare, technology, and tourism. While some sectors experience severe deficits, the report highlights an opportunity for increased cross-border labour mobility within Europe.

Widespread Labour Shortages Across Cyprus

Cyprus recorded 63 occupations facing labour shortages and 11 occupations with labour surpluses in 2024, according to the 2025 EURES Report on Labour Shortages and Surpluses, published on Monday.

According to the report, labour shortages in Cyprus span a wide range of occupations. The most severe shortages are recorded among nurses, midwives, information and communications technology (ICT) sales professionals, systems analysts, software and applications developers, web and multimedia developers, medical imaging technicians, waiters, and bus drivers.

Medium and Low Severity Deficits

Occupations experiencing medium-severity shortages include, among others, restaurant managers, retail and wholesale trade managers, accountants, electricians, electronics and mechanical engineering technicians, chefs, shop salespersons, cashiers, construction workers, air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians, welders, heavy goods vehicle drivers, cleaners, and workers in agriculture, livestock farming, fisheries and construction.

The report also identifies low-severity shortages in occupations such as health and elderly care services managers, engineers of various specialisations, general practitioners and medical specialists, hotel receptionists, cooks, healthcare assistants, carpenters, plumbers, electrical mechanics, bakers and kitchen assistants.

The European Perspective and Mobility Potential

At the European level, the report notes that although labour shortages are widespread, they are concentrated in a relatively small number of member states. According to EURES, this indicates that there is still considerable potential to strengthen cross-border labour mobility within Europe.

The report stated that employers in countries such as Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands face difficulties filling a broad range of positions, from doctors to welders, with 57% of labour shortages classified as being of medium or high severity. By contrast, countries such as Latvia, Austria and Finland more frequently report labour surpluses, particularly in administrative and creative occupations.

According to the data, 98% of occupations experiencing labour shortages in at least one member state simultaneously show labour surpluses in another EU country.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)