The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) reports a significant rise in the number of Sri Lankans departing for overseas employment in September 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. According to the SLBFE, there was a 10% increase, with 28,344 individuals leaving for foreign jobs in September 2024, up from 25,716 in September 2023.
Additionally, over 240,000 Sri Lankans have secured overseas employment in the first nine months of 2024, comprising 99,939 females and 142,170 males. Of these, 70,396 were skilled workers, and 3,704 departed for semi-skilled positions.
The highest number of Sri Lankans have sought employment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2024, with notable figures also recorded for Israel (6,391), Japan (6,295), and South Korea (5,870).
