Skilled migration on the rise, accountants make surprising leap

For the first time, accountants have entered the top 10 skilled professions among Bangladeshi migrants, with nearly 13,000 accountants going abroad between January and June this year, underscoring a growing demand for skilled professionals from Bangladesh.

Ami Probashi, a digital platform that aids aspiring migrant workers in securing employment overseas, released this finding on Sunday in its half-yearly report on migrant workers.

According to the platform, over 500,000 workers migrated abroad during this period. Of these, 79.4% fall into the “general” skill category, a mix of both skilled and unskilled roles.

Additionally, the report states that 10.4% of total migrants are classified as skilled, 7% as unskilled, and 3.2% as professionals, the latter including industry-specific roles such as software developers. The remaining 7% comprise unskilled migrants.

The Ami Probashi app further revealed that general labour remains the most popular, with over 150,000 general workers travelling abroad in the first six months of the year.

Construction ranks second with 63,469 migrants, and factory work completes the top three with 33,748 migrants.

Women’s participation in the migrant workforce remains limited, constituting only 6% of the total workforce. Of these, 13,190 are domestic workers.

Speaking to reporters, Mamun Sarder, director of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), expressed satisfaction with the current trend in overseas employment.

“The trend in overseas employment is encouraging, and we expect to send even more remittance-earning workers abroad this year,” he said.

He added that, according to BMET, 930,003 workers, including 858,225 men and 71,778 women, have secured overseas employment from January to 2 November.

The Ami Probashi app also reported that Saudi Arabia remains the top destination for Bangladeshi workers, with around 250,000 migrants (49.71%) heading to the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s ongoing infrastructure development is thought to be a major driver behind the demand for both skilled and unskilled workers.

Malaysia was the second most popular destination, with 93,000 migrants (18.38%), followed by Qatar with 39,517 (7.83%), the United Arab Emirates (33,254 or 6.59%), and Singapore (25,796 or 5.11%).

The report also reveals migration trends by division from January to June. Dhaka leads with 121,520 migrants, while Rangpur has the lowest numbers with 14,410. Chattogram ranks second with 91,530 migrants, followed by Khulna and Rajshahi, which reported 37,290 and 35,660 migrants respectively. Mymensingh and Sylhet accounted for 26,010 and 17,380 migrants, respectively.

The Ami Probashi app also recorded visa statistics: 183,274 were issued as individual visas, 28,223 as group visas, and 24,638 were self-acquired visas.

Commenting on the report, Shakirul Islam, chairman of the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), questioned the reliability of certain data provided by various organisations.

“We have often found that these reports obscure actual details. For example, what does ‘general’ skill type really cover, and are individual visas truly obtained by individuals? These uncertainties impact our policies,” he said.

Calling for greater transparency, Shakirul added that the recruitment system for migrant workers requires comprehensive reform.

“If, in this era of high demand for skilled labour, we are satisfied with only 10.4% skilled workers and 3.2% professionals, progress will remain elusive,” he said, emphasising the need for technical training centres to be well-equipped with modern syllabuses, technologies, and skilled trainers to meet the demands of the global labour market.