The total expenditure of the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA) for businesses based in Limassol amounted to €11.7 million during the period from 2025 to the first half of 2026, according to data provided by the HRDA to “Entrepreneurial Limassol”. As clarified by the Authority, this amount relates exclusively to programmes for which payments have already been made.
Specifically, during the period from 2025 to the first half of 2026, more than 2,625 businesses based in the Limassol district, out of a total of 8,261 businesses nationwide, participated in training programmes implemented under various HRDA schemes. With regard to Multi-Company Training Programmes, participation from Limassol reached 11,967, compared to 54,754 participants nationwide.
As for Single-Company Training Programmes, namely programmes implemented by businesses and organisations themselves to address the training needs of their personnel, 674 businesses from Limassol participated, compared to 2,963 businesses nationwide. At the same time, 257 businesses in the district benefited from the Scheme for the Staffing of Enterprises with Tertiary Education Graduates and the Scheme for the Training of Long-Term Unemployed Persons in Enterprises and Organisations, compared to 1,086 businesses across Cyprus.
The Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus recently presented in Limassol the opportunities it offers to businesses, employees, unemployed persons and young people, with the aim of promoting greater utilisation of its training and employment support schemes. The Chairman of the HRDA Board of Directors, Dr Constantinos Fellas, praised the role of Limassol, noting that it is currently one of the most dynamic centres of economic and business activity in Cyprus, with a labour market that is constantly evolving and creating new needs and challenges. As he stated, the strong presence of businesses in the fields of services, shipping, trade, tourism, investments, financial services and technology strengthens employment while simultaneously increasing demand for human resources equipped with modern knowledge and skills.
Dr Fellas emphasised that aligning training with the real needs of the economy and the labour market is of critical importance, particularly for a city such as Limassol, which continues to grow and lead in business development. For his part, the Director General of the HRDA, Pambos Efstratiou, presented data on the labour market, noting that the employment rate among people aged 20–64 stands at 81%, while unemployment has fallen to 4%, its lowest level in recent years. Long-term unemployment, he added, is just 0.9%, indicating conditions of near full employment in the Cypriot economy.
At the same time, he expressed concern about unemployment among young people aged 15–24, which stands at 13.5%, noting that several HRDA schemes focus on helping businesses recruit young employees and support their integration into the labour market. He also made particular reference to the low participation of adults in lifelong learning, as only 12% of people aged 25 to 64 take part in education and training programmes. As he noted, strengthening continuous skills development is one of the greatest challenges facing the Cypriot economy.
Mr. Efstratiou further underlined that changes in the labour market are accelerating due to the digital and green transitions, the increasing use of artificial intelligence, demographic developments and environmental challenges. According to international studies, approximately half of all workers will require reskilling in the coming years, while artificial intelligence is expected to transform a significant number of occupations, making the acquisition of new knowledge and skills essential. The event also aimed to facilitate an exchange of views with social partners and businesses, who were given the opportunity to present their positions and recommendations.
