UP, Bihar Replaces Kerala as a Top Supplier of Blue Collar Workers to GCC Nations

Context:

• According to the report (by blue collar workers placement platform Huntr) there has been a 50 percent increase in the migration of blue collar workers from India to the GCC Nations in the first seven months of 2023. 

Key Highlights of Report

• Shift in Migration Patterns: Over the last decade, Kerala has witnessed a 90 percent drop in workforce going to the Middle East nations.
• Emergence Of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: The top five labour-sending states include UP, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, while the preferred destinations remained Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
• Demographic Profile of Migrants: a workforce primarily concentrated in the 20-40 age group. 
• Rise of Women Migrants: Historically male-dominated, the workforce landscape is evolving with a notable increase in women migrants, particularly in the hospitality sector. 
• Educational Profile: Qualifications among migrants vary widely, ranging from minimal formal education to vocational training, with skillsets tailored to specific job roles. 
• Opportunities In the Middle East: Most of these migrants hail from lower-income backgrounds, propelled by the aspiration for enhanced financial conditions through opportunities in Dubai’s robust job market.
• Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers: Financial and Contractual issues, Lack of transparency and fairness in the recruitment process,  Presence of middlemen and Agents and debt cycle.

Source: Economic Times