KATHMANDU: According to the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2025/26 presented by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Nepal has seen a shift in its foreign employment trends: the number of Nepali workers seeking new labor permits has declined, whereas those obtaining re-entry approvals has risen.

The data reveals that new labor permits shrank by 13.7 percent, dropping to a total of 273,530 individuals during this economic period.

Conversely, the number of Nepali workers obtaining renewed or re-entry labor permits surged by 15.9 percent, climbing to 251,983.

Combined, the total number of workers securing both new and renewed labor permits reached 525,513 during this timeframe.

Demographically, men continue to make up the vast majority of the migrating workforce at 87.9 percent, while women account for 12.1 percent.

This overall combined total represents a minor drop compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, which recorded 534,471 total permits.

This downturn contrastingly follows a period of significant growth documented in the prior fiscal year of 2024/25.

The survey highlights that during that previous year, the number of Nepali workers seeking fresh foreign employment opportunities had actually grown by 10.0 percent to reach 505,957.

Similarly, those renewing their labor permits during the same period had jumped by 18.5 percent, totaling 333,309.

The latest figures signify a distinct cooling off in first-time labor migration, even as seasoned workers increasingly choose to return abroad for employment