The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) reports that the number of Sri Lankan migrant workers who traveled overseas for employment in 2024 has reached 300,162 as of December 13. This marks the second-highest figure in the past decade, following the record 310,948 migrant workers in 2022.
In a statement, the SLBFE highlighted a notable increase in the proportion of male migrant workers, who now account for 60% of the workforce (177,804 males), while women make up the remaining 40% (122,358). Of the total, 184,140 workers secured employment through self-arranged methods, while 116,022 relied on employment agencies.
Kuwait remains the top employment destination, with 73,995 Sri Lankans securing jobs there, followed by the UAE with 49,499 workers. There has also been a rising trend of Sri Lankans seeking employment in countries such as South Korea (7,002), Israel (9,211), Romania (10,274), and Japan (8,251).
The SLBFE projects that by the end of 2024, the total number of Sri Lankan migrant workers will likely exceed 311,000. Furthermore, remittances from migrant workers continue to play a vital role in the country’s economy, with Sri Lanka receiving USD 5,961.6 million in remittances up to November 2024.
