Happy New Year from the Emerald Zebra team!

If you’re a recruiter in Cyprus right now, you might feel like you’re drowning in CVs. After years of a candidate-driven boom, the hiring landscape has flipped to an employer-driven market, meaning companies now have the upper hand as job seekers scramble for opportunities. One ripple effect is a surge in job applications per opening.

Remote and hybrid work have redefined how organizations operate, bringing both opportunities and challenges. Globally, over 80% of companies now accommodate remote work, but Cyprus has been slower to adapt. In 2021 only about 6.7% of Cypriot professionals worked remotely – roughly half the EU averagefastforward.com.cy. This is changing, however, especially in the island’s thriving fintech and tech sectors.

Hybrid work has become a lasting fixture in Cyprus, yet many companies still treat it as a superficial perk rather than a strategic shift. While nearly half of Cypriot professionals now prefer remote or hybrid models, common pitfalls like poor communication, proximity bias, unclear policies, and disconnected culture can undermine its benefits.