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Vacancies have decreased in Cyprus. Hotels and restaurants are still looking for employees.
The number of job vacancies in the Republic of Cyprus has declined significantly. In the second quarter of 2026, 12,930 vacancies were recorded – 3,123 fewer than a year earlier. This represents a 19.5% drop.
Despite this, accommodation and catering companies continue to struggle most to find workers. Hotels, restaurants, and bars had 2,827 vacancies, resulting in a vacancy rate of 4.6%—the highest of any sector in the Cypriot economy.
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Almost 3,000 vacancies in hotels and restaurants
According to data from the Cyprus Statistical Office Cystat, the overall job vacancy rate was 2.6% in the second quarter of 2026.
For comparison, in the first quarter it was 2.8%, while in the same period of 2025 – 3.3%.
The highest number of vacancies was recorded in accommodation and catering companies. This group includes hotels, restaurants, bars, and other businesses serving residents and tourists.
In the second quarter it remained in them 2827 job vacancies.
Demand for workers also remained high in the wholesale and retail trade sector, with 2,286 job openings reported. Construction had 1,330 positions available.
Where else was there a shortage of workers?
In other sectors, the number of vacant positions was as follows:
- professional, scientific and technical activities – 874 vacancies;
- transport and storage – 859;
- production – 854;
- administrative and support services – 789;
- public administration and defense – 665;
- health care and social assistance – 572;
- telecommunications, programming and IT services – 441;
- finance and insurance – 398.
After the hotel and restaurant industry, the highest job vacancy rates were recorded in transportation and warehousing, and administrative and support services. In both cases, the vacancy rate was 3.5%.
In construction the indicator reached 3.1%, while in trade it was 3%.
It's worth knowing
A vacancy does not always mean an offer visible on the internet
Cystat counts as vacancies paid positions that are unfilled, have just been created, or are about to become vacant if the employer is actively seeking someone from outside the company. Not all of the 12,930 positions may have been advertised on job portals at the same time.
Fewer vacancies also compared to the beginning of the year
The number of vacancies has decreased not only on a year-on-year basis.
In the first quarter of 2026, Cystat recorded 13,905 vacancies. Over the next three months, this number decreased by 975, or 7%.
The data shows a clear weakening in demand for new workers across the economy. However, this doesn't mean that all companies have stopped recruiting.
Nearly 13,000 positions remained unfilled, with tourism-related industries still reporting the highest number of vacancies.
What kind of employees are hotels and restaurants looking for?
Cystat data shows the number of job vacancies in entire sectors, but does not indicate the names of individual professions.
However, in the offers published by Cypriot hotels and restaurants there are regularly positions related to:
- room service;
- working in the kitchen;
- reception;
- cleaning of rooms and common areas;
- technical maintenance of facilities;
- bar service;
- storage and deliveries.
This doesn't mean that every job opening is available without experience or language skills. Requirements vary by employer, position, and region.
Before submitting your application, it is worth checking whether the employer requires Greek or English language skills, previous experience, own transport or willingness to work shifts.
Are you looking for a job in Cyprus?
We also publish current job offers for people living on the island on the CYPRNews classifieds website. See the latest job offers →
What to watch out for before accepting an offer?
A large number of vacancies does not automatically mean good employment conditions.
Before accepting a job, you should first determine:
- gross and net salary;
- number of working hours;
- shift system;
- rules for settling overtime;
- number of days off;
- trial period;
- scope of duties;
- accommodation conditions, if provided by the employer;
- any deductions for accommodation, transport or meals.
For seasonal positions, accommodation may be included in the employer's offer, but it is not always free. Its cost may be deducted from your salary.
It is also worth checking whether the employer reports the employment to the Cypriot social security system and whether all the conditions are included in the written contract.
The decline in vacancies has not ended the industry's problems.
The 19.5% reduction in the number of vacancies may indicate a weaker demand for new employees, the filling of some previous vacancies, or a change in companies' hiring plans.
However, the data do not allow us to determine which of these reasons was most important.
One thing is certain: despite the significant drop in the number of job vacancies hotels and restaurants remain the sector with the highest percentage of vacancies.
For job seekers, this means that job offers are still coming in. However, these statistics shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of easy employment. Qualifications, language skills, experience, location, and the terms and conditions offered by a specific company are key factors in determining acceptance.
Sources: Cystat, Cyprus Mail and Politis.
