Pakistan’s overseas workforce exceeds 700,000 in 2025: Official Data

ISLAMABAD: More than 762,000 Pakistanis moved overseas for employment in 2025, including 18,352 highly educated professionals, according to official data released by the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment.

The bureau reported that 762,499 Pakistanis sought jobs abroad in 2025, marking an increase from 727,381 in 2024.

Professional Breakdown

According to the data, those who left Pakistan for overseas employment in 2025 included:

5,659 accountants

10,503 cooks

3,795 doctors

5,946 engineers

1,640 nurses

1,725 teachers

163,718 drivers

6,475 electricians

In addition, 465,138 laborers, 5,700 masons, 12,703 technicians, 11,777 managers, 2,306 plumbers, and 2,027 waiters also secured foreign employment.

Skill Levels

The bureau categorized overseas workers as follows:

18,352 highly educated individuals

13,657 highly skilled workers

222,171 skilled workers

42,257 semi-skilled workers

466,062 unskilled workers

Top Destination Countries

Saudi Arabia remained the top destination, receiving 530,256 Pakistani workers, followed by:

Qatar: 68,376

United Arab Emirates: 52,664

Bahrain: 37,726

Kuwait: 6,590

South Korea: 39

Among Western and European destinations:

United States: 1,005

United Kingdom: 4,355

Germany: 984

Italy: 813

Other notable destinations included China (2,230), Japan (2,210), and Romania (1,109).

Officials say the data highlights Pakistan’s continued reliance on overseas employment as a major source of livelihood and foreign remittances.