The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has reported a significant rise in overseas job departures in September 2024. A 10% increase was observed compared to September 2023, with 28,344 Sri Lankans departing for foreign employment this year, up from 25,716 the previous year.
From January to September 2024, a total of 240,109 Sri Lankans secured employment abroad, including 99,939 women and 142,170 men. The breakdown reveals that 70,396 individuals were skilled workers (62,177 men and 8,219 women), 17,649 obtained professional jobs, and 3,704 found semi-skilled roles.
Saudi Arabia continues to be the top destination for Sri Lankan workers, with 38,133 departures. Other key destinations include Israel (6,391), Japan (6,295), South Korea (5,870), Kuwait (5,677), and the UAE (3,995). This growth highlights the increasing global demand for Sri Lankan workers across various sectors.
