Nicosia:The state workforce in Cyprus increased by 622 employees, reaching a total of 53,152 in September 2026, marking a 1.2% rise compared to the previous year.

According to Cyprus News Agency, data from the Cyprus Statistical Service indicates that the increase was primarily driven by growth in the Education Service and Security Forces. Employment in the Education Service grew by 4% to 16,485, while the Security Forces saw a 2% increase, bringing their personnel count to 13,855. However, the Civil Service experienced a decline, with its workforce decreasing by 1.2% to 22,812.

Over the first nine months of 2026, the average number of state employees rose by 0.4% compared to the same period in 2025. During this time, the Education Service increased its workforce by 2.3%, and the Security Forces saw a 0.5% rise, while the Civil Service's numbers fell by 1%.

The breakdown of employment categories for September 2026 shows an increase in permanent staff and a decrease in fixed-term employees. Permanent state employees rose by 3.2% to 33,893, whereas fixed-term employees decreased by 9.1% to 3,161. Indefinite-term contract employees declined by 1% to 9,421, and hourly paid staff slightly reduced by 0.5% to 6,677.

In the Education Service, the number of permanent staff rose significantly by 8.1% to 13,454. Meanwhile, employees on indefinite-term contracts in this sector fell by 14.3% to 1,000, and fixed-term staff decreased by 10.2% to 1,885.

Within the Security Forces, hourly paid staff experienced the largest percentage increase, rising by 13% to 850. However, fixed-term employees in the Security Forces decreased by 97.7%, dropping from 87 to just two, mainly due to the completion and non-renewal of specific contracts from August 2025.