Top Destinations of Migrants from India for Employment

Can you believe how many Indians are living abroad?

Wikipedia has mentioned its estimated count, which is around 17 million in 2017. It’s a surprising fact. Such a huge mass of Indian continent forms the largest population of migrants from a continent. It is up by seven million, if you compare it with its count in 1990. These stats point at an exponential rise in the number of migrants.

Traditionally, the outflow of migrants on ECR passport to the Middle East, Southeast Asia was maximized from Southern states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Presently, the scenario is changing. The maximum outflow has been registered from economically disadvantageous northern India. Uttar Pradesh has contributed the highest number of emigrants in 2011. Bihar and Tami Nadu trailed it. 

But still, the Keralites rank at the top of the migrants’ list in 2017, who seek jobs through govt. route. However, it also marked 19 percent of all remittances received in 2016-17. Maharashtra and Karnataka made a close shave. They brought 17 percent and 15 percent remittance at home in 2017, as per data of the RBI. 

Reasons of Migration from India:

• India’s per capita income increased by 522 per cent, which provides people with more money to travel abroad and search a better employment.
  
• Increment in the population of the upper-middle income status.
  
• Demand of labour driven by straining local employment markets touched 73 percent in 2017 globally, according to ADB reports.
  
• Employable population rose by 1.3 million each month
  
• Rapid expansion of economies in the Gulf exerted by rising oil price internationally.
  
• Triggering large-scale construction projects that require workers from India and other south Asian countries. 
  
• Easy processing of immigration documentations, like non-availability of birth certificate or NABC, birth certificate, marriage certificate, attestation, transcript and visa besides passport. However, the passport and visa can be rejected in case the birth proof is not there. However, NABC can fulfill it. For more info about NABC, click here. 
  

The number of NRIs continues to fluctuate. Its reasons are different. Let’s have a look over these statistics I’ve sourced from the Ministry of External Affairs data via a new channel.

Immigration of Indian (NRIs) Statistics: Sourced from MEA in parliament

Country	2018	2017	Change
UAE	1,03, 720	1,49, 780	-46060
Arabia	65, 542	78,557	-13015
Kuwait	52, 245	56,380	-4135
Qatar	32,492	24,759	7733
Oman	32,316	53,332	-21016
Bahrain	8,522	11,516	-2994

 

What are the top destinations for NRIs in the world?

1. Gulf Nations: The Gulf countries used to be the hottest destination for the Indian migrants. But now, they’re no more their favourite. Let’s have a look over its reasons:

Declining number of migrants in gulf nations:

• Slowdown of the global economy has hampered the outflow of migrants from India to the foreign countries.
  
• The price of crude oil is also rolling down in the international market.
  
• Being linked with the oil industry, the construction companies are facing off hurdles due to expensive fuel.
  

2. Netherland, Norway and Sweden: These are the emerging favourites of the NRI community. Its reasons are given below:

• The NRIs have settled in Netherland, Norway, Sweden and Germany. They were populated by 66, 56 and 42 percent respectively over seven years till 2017.
  
• The livelihood is cheaper.
  
• They are occupied with better career opportunities.
  
• They have declined birth rates. Even, many western countries consistently maintain 2.1 fertility rate.
  

The causes of immigration can be diverse. Predominantly, the immigration policies and the policies for the workers define how many roadblocks would be there for the prospective workforce. If you talk about the unskilled workforce, it’s no less than a nightmare. So, the skill, scholars and technically sound professionals have a fruitful future in the foreign.