For the first time, Accounting has made it into the top 10 jobs for Bangladeshi migrants, with almost 13,000 accountants travelling abroad between January and June, signifying a growing demand for skilled workers from Bangladesh.
Saudi Arabia emerged as the top destination, attracting nearly 250,000 workers.
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) disclosed this information in its half-yearly report, based on data from the “Ami Probashi” app.
The report also revealed that 13,000 accountants left Bangladesh for various countries during this period, making the profession one of the top 10 for Bangladeshi migrant workers.
The app facilitates registration and clearance for overseas employment under BMET.
Initiated during the previous government’s term, the app digitizes registration and management of foreign employment for Bangladeshis.
According to the report, Saudi Arabia, driven by extensive infrastructure development, has become the primary destination for Bangladeshi workers. Malaysia ranks second, employing nearly 93,000 migrants, while Qatar placed third with 39,517 workers.
The report also categorized these workers by industry, with 80% in the “general” category, encompassing both skilled and unskilled roles.
Construction ranked second, employing 63,469 workers, followed by factory work with 33,748 workers. Skilled migrants make up 10.4% of the total workforce, of whom 3.2% are professionals, such as software developers.
This shift from unskilled to skilled migration reflects a positive trend in Bangladesh’s labour market.
Increasingly skilled and versatile, the workforce is benefiting from improved education and training investments, which is encouraging for policymakers, researchers, and labour market stakeholders.
Despite the rise in overall migration, female participation remains low, with women making up only 6% of the migrant labour force, primarily employed as domestic workers, totalling 13,190.
An analysis of regional migration trends from January to June showed that Dhaka division leading with 121,520 migrants, followed by Chittagong with 91,530. Khulna, Rajshahi, and Mymensingh divisions also saw significant outflows. Sylhet contributed 17,380 migrants, while Rangpur had the lowest numbers at 14,410.
During this period, 183,274 individual visas were issued, 28,223 group visas were granted, and 24,638 visas were obtained through one-stop processing.
The increase in one-stop visas highlights the success of the “Ami Probashi” app, which has streamlined visa processing and reduced the influence of intermediaries.
The BMET report notes positive migration conditions in the first half of the year, with Italy approving 20,000 new visas — a promising sign for access to European markets.
