FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — Cyprus’s unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in the second quarter of 2025, down from 4.6% in the same period last year, according to figures released Thursday by the Statistical Service.
The labour force reached 528,981 people, representing 65.4% of the population, up from 511,423 (65.1%) in Q2 2024. Male participation stood at 71.1%, while female participation was 60%.
Employment rose to 506,318, with an overall employment rate of 62.6% — an increase from 62% the previous year. Male employment was 68.3%, and female employment was 57.2%.
The number of unemployed persons dropped to 22,663, with male unemployment at 3.9% and female unemployment at 4.7%.
Among adults aged 20 to 64, the employment rate climbed to 81.7%, up from 80.1% a year earlier. Employment among those aged 55 to 64 remained stable at 71.5%.
The services sector continued to dominate employment, accounting for 81.2% of jobs, followed by manufacturing at 16.6% and agriculture at 2.2%. These figures were largely unchanged from Q2 2024.
Part-time employment made up 9.4% of the workforce, or 47,425 people, with higher rates among women (12%) than men (7.1%). In Q2 2024, part-time employment stood at 8.9%.
Employees comprised 90% of the total workforce, with 14.3% holding temporary positions — nearly identical to last year’s figures.
Youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 rose slightly to 14.9%, compared to 14.2% in the same quarter of 2024. Male youth unemployment increased to 15.8%, while female youth unemployment declined to 13.9%.
Of those unemployed, 55.9% had been seeking work for less than six months, 23% for six to 11 months, and 21.1% were long-term unemployed. Last year, long-term unemployment accounted for 34.5% of the total.
The Statistical Service said the data reflects ongoing improvements in labour market conditions, though challenges remain in youth employment and regional disparities.