A freshly published 2025 EURES ‘Labour Shortages and Surpluses’ report, released on 30 June, shows Cyprus grappling with gaps in 63 occupations – the highest figure logged for the island since tracking began. Healthcare professionals, software developers and hospitality workers top the shortage list, whereas clerical and low-skilled agricultural roles remain in surplus. The findings bolster anecdotal evidence from employers who have struggled to fill roles even after post-pandemic tourism bounced back and ICT investment accelerated.
![EURES report flags acute skill shortages in Cyprus’ health, tech and tourism sectors]()
Amid these shifts, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can streamline the visa and work-permit process for both employers and incoming talent. The service aggregates up-to-date requirements, automates form completion, and offers end-to-end document handling, helping applicants avoid common errors and secure approvals faster.
For mobility practitioners this is significant: work-permit applications for nurses, chefs or data engineers could move faster, as the Migration Department routinely prioritises roles officially recognised as scarce. Cyprus currently allows fast-track employment of third-country nationals in several shortage categories, provided companies meet minimum salary and skills thresholds. The EURES data will feed into the government’s ongoing review of its ‘Strategic Sectors List’, expected later this summer. HR teams planning 2027 budgets should therefore model scenarios that include more generous quotas – but also tighter enforcement on prevailing wages to avoid social dumping allegations. At EU level, the report fuels calls for a common Talent Pool portal, which Cyprus backs. If approved, recruiters could search EU-wide databases for qualified third-country candidates willing to relocate. That would streamline sourcing while obliging employers to demonstrate fair working conditions. In practical terms, multinationals should prepare evidence packs – business plans, training commitments, housing arrangements – to accompany permit requests. With shortages now officially documented, authorities are likely to demand proof that foreign hires will not undercut local terms.
Amid these shifts, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can streamline the visa and work-permit process for both employers and incoming talent. The service aggregates up-to-date requirements, automates form completion, and offers end-to-end document handling, helping applicants avoid common errors and secure approvals faster.
For mobility practitioners this is significant: work-permit applications for nurses, chefs or data engineers could move faster, as the Migration Department routinely prioritises roles officially recognised as scarce. Cyprus currently allows fast-track employment of third-country nationals in several shortage categories, provided companies meet minimum salary and skills thresholds. The EURES data will feed into the government’s ongoing review of its ‘Strategic Sectors List’, expected later this summer. HR teams planning 2027 budgets should therefore model scenarios that include more generous quotas – but also tighter enforcement on prevailing wages to avoid social dumping allegations. At EU level, the report fuels calls for a common Talent Pool portal, which Cyprus backs. If approved, recruiters could search EU-wide databases for qualified third-country candidates willing to relocate. That would streamline sourcing while obliging employers to demonstrate fair working conditions. In practical terms, multinationals should prepare evidence packs – business plans, training commitments, housing arrangements – to accompany permit requests. With shortages now officially documented, authorities are likely to demand proof that foreign hires will not undercut local terms.
