According to the semi-annual report by the Bangladesh-based digital platform Ami Probashi, 10.4% of Bangladeshi migrant workers are skilled, with 3.2% of them holding specialized professions, such as software developers. The remaining 7% comprise unskilled migrant workers. The report also highlighted Saudi Arabia as the preferred destination for Bangladeshi workers.
The report shows an increase in skilled migrant workers this year. In the first half of 2024 alone, 13,000 accountants migrated from Bangladesh, bringing this profession into the top 10 jobs for Bangladeshi expatriates. Ami Probashi, a digital platform, aims to improve transparency, reduce migration costs, and streamline the migration process for Bangladeshi workers.
Between January and June 2024, more than 500,000 workers went abroad for employment, with nearly 250,000 choosing Saudi Arabia as their destination. Saudi Arabia’s focus on infrastructure development has created more job opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labor, establishing it as a key destination for Bangladeshi workers. Malaysia ranks second with 93,000 Bangladeshi workers, followed by Qatar, with 39,517 workers.
The report provides further insights into the sectors employing Bangladeshi workers abroad. Approximately 80%, or around 150,000, fall into the “general” category, which includes both skilled and unskilled roles. The construction sector employs 63,469 Bangladeshi workers, while factory work ranks third with 33,748 workers.
While the number of migrant workers is increasing, women’s participation remains low at just 6%, mostly in domestic roles, with 13,190 employed as domestic helpers.
Regionally, Dhaka leads with 121,520 migrants, followed by Chattogram with 91,530. Fewer migrants were recorded from divisions like Sylhet (17,380) and Rangpur, which had the lowest number at 14,410.
The first half of 2024 saw a rise in automated or one-stop visas, with 24,638 issued—up dramatically from less than 1% of total visas previously. This growth underscores the success of the Ami Probashi app in empowering migrant workers, reducing visa processing times, and curbing fraud through minimized intermediary involvement.
The report presents a positive outlook for 2024’s migration scenario, noting that Italy recently approved 20,000 new visas, signaling further opportunities in European markets. A stable labor market is anticipated for the second half of the year, with Ami Probashi continuing to play a key role in ensuring transparent, affordable, and expedited migration solutions.
