Siena:The number of state employees in Cyprus rose by 622, or 1.2%, year-on-year to reach a total of 53,152 in September 2026.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the data published by the Cyprus Statistical Service highlighted that the increase was primarily due to growth in the Education Service and Security Forces. Meanwhile, the Civil Service experienced a reduction in staff numbers.

Employment in the Education Service saw a 4% rise to 16,485, up from 15,853 in the same period last year. The Security Forces also recorded a 2% increase, bringing their workforce to 13,855. On the other hand, the Civil Service's workforce declined by 1.2% to 22,812, down from 23,098 in September 2025.

Over the period from January to September 2026, the average number of state employees increased by 0.4% compared to the same timeframe in 2025. The Education Service's employment rose by 2.3%, and Security Forces reported a 0.5% increase, whereas the Civil Service saw a 1% decrease.

Further analysis of employment types in September 2026 reveals that the rise in the state workforce was paralleled by an increase in permanent staff, while fixed-term employees decreased. Permanent state employees grew by 3.2% to 33,893, whereas fixed-term employees dropped by 9.1% to 3,161. Employees on indefinite-term contracts decreased by 1% to 9,421, with hourly paid staff slightly declining by 0.5% to 6,677.

Notably, permanent staff in the Education Service increased dramatically by 8.1% to 13,454, from 12,441 the previous year. Meanwhile, those on indefinite-term contracts in education 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 saw the largest percentage increase, rising by 13% to 850 from 752 a year prior. The number of fixed-term employees in the Security Forces plummeted by 97.7%, from 87 to just two, attributed mainly to the completion and non-renewal of specific contracts since August 2025.