# Migration and labor trends in Cyprus > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/migration-and-labor-trends-in-cyprus > Updated: 2026-09-27T01:24:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Cyprus has seen a significant shift in its migration landscape. Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannides reported a 92% decrease in irregular migration arrivals compared to 2022. This decline is attributed to enhanced surveillance of the Green Line, increased maritime patrols, and faster asylum application processing. Consequently, the population at the Pournara Reception and Hostility Centre has dropped from over 3,000 to 142 residents. Simultaneously, the country is managing a high volume of legal migration to address labor shortages in the construction, tourism, agriculture, and service sectors. As of late August 2026, over 60,000 third-country nationals are legally employed, with significant populations from Nepal and India. To maintain this workforce, the government has established bilateral mobility agreements with countries such as Egypt and India. However, the use of temporary employment agencies has drawn criticism from trade unions SEK and PEO. Unions argue that certain agencies ‘rent’ personnel, a practice they claim undermines local labor rights. Some members of parliament have further linked these agency practices to potential human trafficking, prompting calls for increased government inspections. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-27: Cyprus faces labour shortages driven by third-country nationals Cyprus faces labour shortages in key sectors, relying on over 60,000 third-country nationals. Unions are criticizing temporary agencies for potentially undermining labour rights and working conditions. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cyprus-faces-labour-shortages-driven-by-third-country-nationals ### 2026-09-13: Cyprus reports 92% drop in irregular migration arrivals Cyprus reports a 92% drop in irregular arrivals since 2022, driven by increased surveillance, faster asylum processing, and over 4,000 repatriations since early 2026. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cyprus-reports-92-drop-in-irregular-migration-arrivals --- Cite as: Migration and labor trends in Cyprus. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/migration-and-labor-trends-in-cyprus