Nicosia:Employers in Cyprus' public and private sectors are struggling to find the right mix of skills, with many recruiting graduates for positions below their qualification level and reporting staff with skills exceeding job requirements. This is According to first cycle of Cyprus' National Employers' Skills Survey (2023) conducted by PwC Cyprus in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, and published by the Ministry of Education.

According to Cyprus News Agency, data for the survey were collected from 24 May 2024 to 10 January 2025. In the private sector, a stratified random sample of 12,840 organizations was drawn from a target population of 29,567, with 1,395 providing valid responses, reflecting an 11% response rate. In the public sector, 916 senior officials were identified through a mapping exercise, and 221 responded, resulting in a 24% response rate.

The survey indicated stable employment numbers in both sectors, with 55% of private sector employers and 48% of public sector officials reporting no change in employee numbers between January 2023 and January 2024. Further, private sector employers reported an average of 2.58 vacancies per organization, while public sector entities reported 10.4 vacancies on average.

Recruitment criteria differ between sectors private sector employers prioritize work experience, enthusiasm, and hard skills, whereas public sector recruitment favors particular qualifications and regulated procedures. Hard-to-fill vacancies were most common among professionals, service and sales workers, technicians, and clerical support workers.

Recruitment difficulties were attributed to a lack of interest in job types, with private sector employers also citing a limited pool of applicants. Public sector officials noted poor employment terms as a contributing factor. Both sectors reported a significant percentage of employees not fully proficient in required skills, and many graduates were employed in positions not requiring their qualifications.

The survey highlighted a projected skills shortage over the next five years, with private sector employers and public sector officials expecting challenges. Transversal skills such as communication and problem-solving were identified as key areas for improvement. The survey concluded that the evidence points to a mismatch of skills rather than a shortage of educated labor.