760,000 Pakistanis Went Abroad for Work in 2025

In 2025, more than 762,000 Pakistanis traveled abroad for employment, including 18,352 highly educated individuals, according to data released by the Bureau of Emigration. The figure marks an increase from 727,381 Pakistanis who went abroad for work in 2024.

The report provides a detailed breakdown of professions and skill levels: 5,659 accountants, 10,503 cooks, 3,795 doctors, and 5,946 engineers left the country. Other professionals included 1,640 nurses, 1,725 teachers, 1,63,718 drivers, and 6,475 electricians.

Skilled and semi-skilled workers comprised 4,65,138 laborers, 5,700 masons, 12,703 technicians, 11,777 managers, 2,306 plumbers, and 2,027 waiters. In total, 13,657 were classified as extremely skilled, 2,22,171 as skilled, 42,257 as semi-skilled, and 4,66,062 as unskilled.

Saudi Arabia remained the top destination, with 5,30,256 Pakistanis traveling there for work, followed by 68,376 to Qatar, 52,664 to the UAE, 37,726 to Bahrain, and 6,590 to Kuwait. Smaller numbers went to South Korea (39), the United States (1,005), the United Kingdom (4,355), Germany (984), Italy (813), China (2,230), Japan (2,210), and Romania (1,109).

The Bureau of Emigration noted that the outflow reflects Pakistanis from diverse educational and professional backgrounds seeking employment opportunities abroad, with highly educated and skilled workers making up a significant portion of the workforce.