Islamabad reported a significant increase in overseas employment as more than 700,000 Pakistanis went abroad for work during 2025, reflecting growing economic pressures and rising demand for foreign labor markets.
According to data released by the Bureau of Immigration, a total of 762,499 Pakistanis left the country for employment purposes in 2025, compared to 727,381 individuals who went abroad during 2024.
The official document revealed that among those leaving Pakistan, 18,352 were highly educated professionals, highlighting a continuing trend of skilled and educated workforce migration from the country.
The statistics showed that 5,659 accountants, 10,503 cooks, 3,795 doctors, and 5,946 engineers secured overseas employment opportunities during the year, contributing to professional brain drain concerns.
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In addition, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that 1,640 nurses and 1,725 teachers went abroad for work, along with 163,718 drivers seeking better earnings opportunities overseas.
The data further indicated that 6,475 electricians and 12,703 technicians were among the skilled workforce that left Pakistan, reflecting sustained international demand for technical expertise.
The report stated that 465,138 laborers formed the largest group of overseas workers, while 5,700 masons and 2,306 plumbers also migrated for employment during 2025.
Other professions included 11,777 managers and 2,027 waiters, showing that both white-collar and service-sector workers continued to explore overseas job markets.
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According to official figures, 13,657 individuals were categorized as highly skilled, while 222,171 skilled workers also moved abroad in search of improved livelihoods.
The document added that 42,257 semi-skilled and 466,062 unskilled workers left Pakistan, underlining the scale of labor migration across all employment categories.
Country-wise data showed that Saudi Arabia remained the top destination, with 530,256 Pakistanis securing employment there during the year.
Other Gulf destinations included Qatar, which received 68,376 Pakistani workers, the United Arab Emirates with 52,664, and Bahrain with 37,726 Pakistani employees.
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The Bureau reported that 6,590 Pakistanis went to Kuwait, while a smaller number, 39 individuals, secured employment opportunities in South Korea during 2025.
European destinations also attracted Pakistani workers, with 4,355 going to the United Kingdom, 984 to Germany, and 813 finding employment in Italy.
The data showed that 1,005 Pakistanis went to the United States for work, reflecting limited but continued access to American job markets.
Asian destinations included China with 2,230 Pakistani workers, Japan with 2,210, and Romania hosting 1,109 Pakistani employees during the year.
