2024 marks record high in overseas employment

1 January 2025 07:55 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, January 1 (Daily Mirror) - A total of 312,836 individuals went abroad for work during 2024, marking a new record that surpasses the previous high set in 2022, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

In 2024, 185,162 male workers and 127,674 female workers went abroad for employment. Kuwait accounted for the highest number of Sri Lankan workers, with 77,546 individuals, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 51,550 workers.

Notably, the statistics reveal an increasing trend of Sri Lankans seeking employment in countries such as South Korea, Israel, and Japan. In 2024, 7,098 Sri Lankans went to South Korea, 9,665 to Israel, and 8,665 to Japan for work.

The foreign exchange earnings from overseas workers have also risen significantly, with Sri Lanka receiving USD 6,462 million by the end of November 2024.

In comparison, 297,584 Sri Lankans went abroad for employment in 2023, including 164,680 male and 132,904 female workers.

Comments - 6

Christo255 Wednesday, 01 January 2025 09:11 AM

This is utter stupidity. SL itself does not have enough EMPLOYABLE people. Currently there is a severe shortage of talent and companies are struggling with not having enough people. IT companies are now itself running away from SL.

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Seeya Wednesday, 01 January 2025 12:55 PM

It's not that there are suitable people just that people are now asking for higher pay according to their worth. If local companies cannot pay them they will look for opportunities abroad that are more lucrative. And Manusha did nothing just filled his pockets don't bring irrelevant people into the discussion

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Vihan Wednesday, 01 January 2025 11:44 AM

Thanks Manusha.

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Vinayak Wednesday, 01 January 2025 01:37 PM

SL workers who go to ME are mostly semiskilled -such a fitters carpenters nurses and NOT Engineers ....these semiskilled people would get good life and steady income compared to working in SL. In India when in 80s skilled artisans from construction migrated in droves to ME, shortage was felt but new people learnt the skills very soon.....Workers abroad sending money to home country is good for the economy.

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Gune Wednesday, 01 January 2025 02:01 PM

These people are most unskilled or semi- skilled workers mainly going to Middle East. There is another group going to developed countries and they are the well educated skilled ones (with English proficiency) and their movements are unrecorded. They never have any connection with or a registration in SL Foreign Employment Bureau.

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DOT Thursday, 02 January 2025 05:33 AM

This is not a good sign. Specially young people are leaving for better future.

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