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.