Every year, thousands of young Nepalese leave their homeland in search of better employment opportunities and education. This trend is growing annually, with more than 5.5 million Nepali youth applying for permission to leave for foreign employment in 2019. The reasons behind this mass migration are multifaceted and complex, ranging from economic to educational factors.
In the 10 months of the current financial year 2022/23, the number of people going abroad for foreign employment has exceeded 660,000.
A significant portion of the rural youth population migrates to the Gulf and other countries in search of employment. They leave the country as migrant laborers, hoping to earn enough to support their families and contribute to their dream of better economic development. In the fiscal year 2020-2021, the Nepal Labour Department approved 155,242 men and 11,456 women for working abroad.
The lack of job opportunities in Nepal and the prospect of higher-paying jobs in the destination country are the primary reasons for this migration. More than 1,700 Nepalis travel abroad for work every day. The age range of the population leaving Nepal is relatively young, between 25 and 35 years old, which has ramifications for domestic jobs.
While many youths leave Nepal in search of jobs, urban youth aspire to leave the country for different reasons. Many young people move abroad to further their education. The number of Nepalese students traveling abroad for higher education increased seven-fold from 2011 to 2019. More than 300,000 students are enrolled in various universities around the world.
The approach to teaching in Nepal is often not adapted to the current needs of industries. For instance, colleges in Nepal only offer Majors in Marketing and Finance for students wanting to study commerce. However, students seeking a more comprehensive education, such as a double degree in economics and financial economics, must look abroad.
The exodus of young people from Nepal has significant implications for the country’s future. While the economic advantages of migration are high, the effects and consequences can be seen on both a micro and macro level. The ongoing political uncertainty has also stopped industry expansion and reduced development operations nationwide.
Despite the challenges, many young Nepalese see migration as a necessary step towards achieving their dreams. As one young Nepali planning to go to Australia for his education puts it, “there’s no point in staying in Nepal as there are no proper employment opportunities and income sources”.