Nepal’s Overall Salary and Wage Index Rises 2.63% in FY 2024/25

The Salary and Wage Index (SWI) for Nepal climbed to 103.22 in mid-July 2025, marking a 2.63% year-on-year increase compared to July 2024 (100.57). This growth reflects steady wage adjustments across key economic sectors, though the pace varied significantly by industry.

Among the major sectors, agriculture, forestry, and fishing (+4.78%) showed strong gains, reflecting rising labor demand during peak agricultural cycles. The information and communication sector (+4.35%) also recorded notable wage hikes, likely driven by expansion in digital services and IT-related employment. Similarly, financial and insurance activities (+3.73%) saw solid growth, signaling increased demand for skilled professionals in banking, insurance, and financial services.

Moderate gains were reported in education (+3.21%), human health and social work (+3.57%), and transportation and storage (+2.95%), all of which highlight the growing importance of services and infrastructure in driving wage improvements. On the other hand, construction (+1.63%) and manufacturing (+1.34%) posted slower wage growth, reflecting cost constraints and weaker industrial momentum. The public administration and defense sector remained unchanged, with wages holding flat at the 100.00 level.

This balanced yet uneven growth highlights Nepal’s transition toward a service-oriented economy, where technology, finance, education, and healthcare are fueling wage momentum, while traditional sectors like manufacturing and construction remain sluggish.