ISLAMABAD, December 1: Pakistan’s labour market is under severe pressure as unemployment rises sharply and a growing number of citizens turn to overseas employment. New results from the federal labour-force survey show unemployment has climbed to 7.1 percent in fiscal year 2024-25, the highest level recorded in more than two decades. The number of people without work now stands at roughly 5.9 million. The survey also indicates that over the past four years the unemployed population increased by around 1.4 million, underscoring a broad deterioration in job prospects across the country.
Workers in Pakistan face rising unemployment pressures and limited options in local job markets daily. (AI-generated image)
Among youth, particularly those aged 15-24, the rate of joblessness has risen markedly. Labour force participation has grown, but job creation has failed to keep pace as growth remains sluggish. Sectoral data reveal a shift away from agriculture. Agricultural employment’s share has fallen, while services now absorb a larger proportion of the workforce. Manufacturing and industry continue to struggle under the combined weight of high energy costs and limited investment. As a result, many who find work remain positioned in informal, low-security jobs or accept “gig” and short-term employment, reflecting underemployment even among those nominally employed.
With few sturdy opportunities at home, many Pakistanis are opting to migrate for work. According to official emigration data, by the end of October 2025 more than 615,000 Pakistanis had secured overseas employment. This wave of labour migration is among the largest seen in recent years. The early months of 2025 alone saw over 170,000 Pakistani workers leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Gulf states remain the primary destination. Among those leaving are both skilled and unskilled workers, covering professions such as technicians, drivers, masons, cooks, and general labourers.
Nationwide uncertainty clouds the outlook
A portion of emigrants also hold more formal qualifications, while others come from trade and semi-skilled backgrounds. For many families, remittances from abroad have become a lifeline. Money sent back home provides critical support for living expenses, education, and health care, especially as domestic incomes erode under inflation and economic stagnation. The remittance inflow serves as a buffer for households coping with rising costs and shrinking job stability. Nevertheless, migration as a livelihood strategy is not without challenges. Many jobseekers report long delays, steep recruitment costs, and complex processing requirements.
Visas, contract negotiations, and placement procedures often pose significant hurdles. For workers without advanced skills or certifications, competition remains intense. Demographically, Pakistan continues to add several million young people to its working-age population each year. This influx of jobseekers demands robust economic growth and broad-based job creation neither of which have materialised at the needed scale. Experts note that a recovery in employment will rely on reviving private sector investment, improving the business climate, and strengthening vocational training and workforce skills.
Frustration grows across communities
In the meantime, the dual pressures of rising unemployment and mass labour migration are reshaping the country’s social and economic landscape. Urban migration, rising underemployment, and outward labour flows reflect a pervasive search for stability. For many among Pakistan’s youth and working class, opportunity now lies beyond national borders. The coming months will test whether planned reforms and efforts to stimulate export-driven growth can translate into tangible job creation. Until then, Pakistan remains a nation increasingly in search of work whether at home or abroad.
Pakistan’s economic strain is visible in stalled projects, shuttered small businesses, and swelling queues of jobseekers. Households face rising prices while wages fail to keep pace. Public services remain stretched as more workers leave the country. With unemployment rising and opportunities narrowing, uncertainty dominates daily life and the near-term outlook offers little relief as frustration grows across cities and rural districts alike. – By Content Syndication Services.