Employment in Cyprus recorded a 1.5 per cent increase in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

According to data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) on Friday, total employment during this period was estimated at 497,343 people, of whom 444,635 were employees and 52,708 were self-employed.

The most notable growth was observed in the arts, entertainment and recreation, manufacturing, information and communication, and construction sectors.

Meanwhile, actual hours worked in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 1.9 per cent year-on-year, reaching 230,173.

The most significant percentage increases in hours worked were also recorded in the same sectors, arts, entertainment and recreation, manufacturing, information and communication, and construction.

Earlier this week, president Nikos Christodoulides reported a decrease of 2,025 in absolute unemployment figures, while youth unemployment dropped by 37 per cent year-on-year to 9.9 per cent.

On his part, Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou stated the overall unemployment rate stood at 3.7 per cent in April, marking a 27.5 per cent annual fall.

Cyprus, he said, now has the third lowest unemployment rate in the Eurozone.

May 2025 also marked the first time youth unemployment fell below 1,000.