Over 278,000 Pakistanis Register for Overseas Jobs in First Five Months of 2026
A total of 278,563 Pakistanis registered for overseas employment during the first five months of 2026, according to data released by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE).
The figures show that the majority of applicants were from labour-intensive professions, with labourers and drivers accounting for nearly 80 percent of total registrations between January and May.
Labourers remained the largest category, followed by drivers, reflecting strong demand for Pakistani workers in overseas job markets, particularly in the Gulf region.
Among other categories, a significant number of applicants registered as cooks, technicians, electricians, fitters, welders, and plumbers. These skilled workers continue to be in demand across construction, hospitality, and logistics sectors abroad.
Professional categories such as doctors, engineers, accountants, teachers, nurses, and IT specialists also appeared in the data, though they represented a smaller share of total registrations.
The overall trend highlights Pakistan’s continued dependence on overseas employment opportunities as a key source of income and remittances.
Officials note that international labour markets, especially in Middle Eastern countries, remain a major destination for Pakistani workers seeking better employment prospects.
