The Shrinking Employment Opportunities Worldwide and Pakistan’s Reality
Migration opportunities around the world are quickly becoming more limited. There was a time when Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia were seen as the top destinations for a better life and employment. People moved to these countries in large numbers, and their economies largely depended on immigrant labor. Later, following the discovery of oil and economic development, Gulf countries also emerged as major employment hubs. Due to their small populations and rapid growth, these nations required an external workforce, which provided jobs to millions from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and other developing countries.
Similarly, several East Asian nations—such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore—also incorporated foreign workers into their economies at various stages. A significant number of migrants settled in all these countries, and the remittances they sent back home supported their native economies. Pakistan’s economy, too, has long relied heavily on remittances, which have at times exceeded export earnings. Without this income, the country’s economic situation could come under severe strain.
But now this picture is changing. In the Western world, right-wing political parties and ideologies that take a firm stance against immigration are on the rise. In countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia, immigration laws are being tightened and visa policies are constantly shifting. Similarly, news has emerged from some Gulf countries about reviews of foreign work permit policies, with reports of thousands of permits being canceled. All of this signals that the world is no longer the open labor market it once was.
At the same time, another major shift is taking place through artificial intelligence and automated systems. Tasks that used to require dozens of office workers can now be handled by a few software systems or AI tools. Entry-level jobs—such as data entry, basic programming, and customer support—are particularly declining. Likewise, robots and automation are beginning to reduce the need for human labor in industrial and manual sectors. This directly impacts countries that previously relied on sending their workforce abroad for employment.
For a country like Pakistan, this situation is becoming a major challenge. On one hand, foreign employment opportunities are shrinking, while on the other, the domestic capacity to generate jobs remains limited. The fundamental solution lies solely in industrialization—creating large-scale employment within the country itself. Unfortunately, this sector has been consistently neglected for the past forty years. Not only in recent times but across various governments, policies that promote productive industry have not been formulated. The result is that Pakistan today has an economic environment that is becoming increasingly difficult for new industries to take root—high energy costs, unstable policies, and weak infrastructure further discourage investment.
If this trend continues, the country will not only face shrinking external employment opportunities but may also see unemployment evolve into a major crisis at home. Therefore, there is now an urgent need for the state to seriously focus on industrial policy, skill development, and technological adaptation—so that the economy can be built on a strong productive foundation rather than relying solely on remittances.
