Labourers and Drivers Lead Foreign Job Registrations
More than 278,000 Pakistanis registered for overseas employment during the first five months of 2026.
According to data released by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, a total of 278,563 Pakistanis registered for jobs abroad between January and May 2026.
Labourers remained the largest group among overseas job seekers. The category recorded 171,206 registrations during the period.
Drivers were the second-largest group, with 52,652 registrations.
Together, labourers and drivers made up nearly 80 percent of all overseas employment registrations in the first five months of the year.
Skilled Workers Also Seek Jobs Abroad
The data also showed steady demand for skilled Pakistani workers in foreign labour markets.
Cooks recorded 9,824 registrations, reflecting continued demand for Pakistani hospitality workers abroad.
Other skilled categories included technicians, engineers, fitters, electricians, carpenters, operators, plumbers, and welders.
Professional workers made up a smaller portion of total registrations.
These included doctors, accountants, computer analysts, teachers, nurses, and agriculturists.
The figures show that overseas employment remains heavily concentrated in labour-intensive sectors.
Gulf Markets Remain Key Destination
The trend highlights Pakistan’s continued dependence on overseas labour markets, especially in Gulf countries.
Demand remains strong in construction, transportation, logistics, hospitality, and other service-related sectors.
Foreign employment plays an important role in reducing local job pressure and supporting household incomes through remittances.
According to the Economic Survey 2025-26, Pakistan recorded 762,499 overseas employment registrations in 2025.
The latest five-month data shows that overseas jobs continue to remain a major employment route for thousands of Pakistani workers.
Officials say foreign job opportunities remain important for Pakistan’s labour force, especially as domestic employment challenges continue.
