90,000 Pakistani Professionals Went Abroad for Jobs
More than 90,000 Pakistani professionals — including managers, engineers, doctors, accountants, nurses, teachers and IT workers — went abroad for jobs in 2024, 2025 and 2026 so far, according to official overseas employment data.
The figures show 45,830 professionals left in 2024, followed by 28,726 in 2025 and 15,850 in 2026 so far. The data covers selected professional categories and does not represent total emigration from Pakistan.
Managers lead the departures
Managers accounted for the largest share of professional departures. A total of 23,674 managers went abroad in 2024, compared with 9,562 in 2025 and 5,190 in 2026 so far.
Engineers were the next largest group: 8,015 left in 2024, 5,945 in 2025 and 3,605 in 2026 so far. Among accountants, 4,779 sought overseas employment in 2024, followed by 4,305 in 2025 and 1,771 in 2026 so far.
Doctors, nurses and teachers
Doctors made up a significant share of the outflow. A total of 3,625 doctors went abroad in 2024, rising to 3,795 in 2025, before reaching 2,093 in 2026 so far.
Nurse departures stood at 2,030 in 2024 and 1,639 in 2025, with 626 going overseas in 2026 so far. Teacher departures remained relatively stable: 1,729 in 2024, 1,725 in 2025 and 1,457 in 2026 so far.
Other healthcare professionals featured in smaller numbers. Dental surgeons going abroad numbered 84 in 2024, 63 in 2025 and 45 in 2026 so far, while pharmacists accounted for 155 departures in 2024, 183 in 2025 and 156 in 2026 so far.
IT and finance professionals
The data also captures overseas employment among IT and financial sector workers. A total of 1,351 computer programmers went abroad in 2024, compared with 1,147 in 2025 and 664 in 2026 so far. Systems analysts numbered 388 in 2024, 362 in 2025 and 243 in 2026 so far.
Financial analysts were one of the few categories to rise year on year, increasing from 683 departures in 2024 to 923 in 2025, before falling to 424 in 2026 so far. Consultants declined from 836 in 2024 to 512 in 2025 and 228 in 2026 so far.
Other categories included highly skilled workers (1,616 in 2024; 1,510 in 2025; 681 in 2026), budget controllers (64; 38; 18) and pilots (33; 37; 11).
What the trend shows
The headline figure is large, but the year-on-year pattern is worth reading carefully. Professional departures have fallen each year since 2024 — from 45,830 to 28,726 to 15,850 so far this year — though 2026 is incomplete and the data covers only selected categories.
Two patterns stand out. First, management is by far the biggest professional export: managers alone account for more than two in five departures across the three years. Second, doctors are the exception to the decline — departures rose from 3,625 in 2024 to 3,795 in 2025 even as most other categories fell.
The data does not explain why these professionals left or whether they intend to settle permanently abroad. What is clear is that Pakistan’s skilled workforce continues to find buyers overseas, a dynamic visible in Punjab’s push to place skilled young professionals in Saudi jobs. The outflow also feeds the remittance economy — monthly remittance flows remain a lifeline for the current account, and the State Bank has moved to reward overseas Pakistanis for sending money home through formal channels. At home, the other side of the coin is a tight job market for young graduates.
Frequently asked questions
How many Pakistani professionals went abroad for jobs?
More than 90,000 professionals went abroad in 2024, 2025 and 2026 combined: 45,830 in 2024, 28,726 in 2025 and 15,850 in 2026 so far.
Which professions left in the largest numbers?
Managers led with 38,426 departures over the three years, followed by engineers (17,565) and accountants (10,855). Doctors numbered 9,513.
Does this cover all emigration from Pakistan?
No. The data covers selected professional categories shared with ProPakistani and does not represent total emigration, nor does it say whether departures are permanent.
