28-05-2025
Bhutan's emigration dilemma: Will they return?
THIMPHU: Despite a record wave of emigration, many Bhutanese living abroad are not closing the door on home. A new World Bank survey reveals that a majority of Bhutanese migrants, both those who have already left and those aspiring to leave, are open to returning. But there's a catch: the quality of jobs and pay must be better.
According to the World Bank's Bhutan Development Update report released on May 26, 77.7 percent of aspiring migrants and 63.5 per cent of current migrants said they would consider coming back if job quality and working conditions improve.
For most, the decision hinges not just on pay, but on professional dignity and stability. While many are willing to accept lower wages than what they currently earn abroad, about 25 per cent would only return for equal or higher salaries. One in five current migrants and one in ten aspiring migrants said they would only return for jobs paying more than Nu 100,000 (US$1,170) per month, well above the average salary in Bhutan.
The survey highlights a key dilemma: the migration crisis is not necessarily irreversible. But whether the country can create enough incentive for its citizens to come home remains an open question.
Bhutan is witnessing an unprecedented surge in international migration, with departures from Paro International Airport increasing more than tenfold since before the Covid-19 pandemic, from fewer than 500 monthly to over 5,000 by early 2023. The Bhutan Development Update identifies a potent combination of domestic push factors and international pull factors that are reshaping the country's demographic and economic landscape.
As per the data shared by the World Bank's Global Bilateral Migration Matrix (2000–2020), between 2000 and 2020, the proportion of Bhutanese emigrants holding university degrees rose from 8.6 per cent to 13.5 per cent.
The pace has only accelerated since international borders reopened in 2022, with Australia emerging as the most popular destination for Bhutanese migrants. According to the report, the migrant population in Australia has doubled from 12,424 in 2020 to over 25,000 today.
To understand the shifting migration trends, the World Bank conducted a phone survey, covering 1,208 households. Of these, 465 included recent migrants, mainly to Australia post-2022, and 143 had aspiring migrants. The rest served as a control group.
Among migrants, 53 per cent are women, with an average age of 29, and 85 per cent are married and well-educated (over half hold university degrees). In contrast, aspiring migrants are younger, predominantly male and less educated.
For many, education is a key driver. About 42 pervcent of current migrants are either enrolled in academic programmes or are working while studying. Among aspiring migrants, 64 pervcent cite education as their primary motivation for going abroad.
Income is another major factor. Most migrants reported earning less than Nu 40,000 (U$468) per month in Bhutan, compared to over Nu 60,000 (USD$702) after migrating. Strikingly, 40 percent now report monthly earnings exceeding Nu 220,000 (US$2,573).
According to the World Bank report, every migrant reported an income increase after leaving the country.
Favourable visa policies, relatively affordable tuition and cost of living, and well-established Bhutanese diaspora networks make Australia particularly appealing.
The migration surge is compounded by growing domestic frustrations, particularly within the labour market. Bhutan's national unemployment rate doubled from three per cent before the pandemic to six per cent in 2022. Urban women, youth aged 20–24, and highly educated job seekers have been especially affected.
Job quality remains a concern. Over 60 per cent of Bhutan's workforce report being overworked, and many lack formal contracts.
Public sector employees are also increasingly becoming disillusioned. In 2024 alone, more than 2,000 civil servants resigned, 70 per cent of them voluntarily.
Concerns about career stagnation, low pay, bureaucratic hurdles and high workloads, particularly in health and education, are fuelling exits. The health sector has seen a 16 per cent attrition rate among nurses, and many report job dissatisfaction and insufficient compensation.
The survey also revealed that many Bhutanese migrants experience occupational downgrading after moving abroad. Before migrating, only one per cent worked in low-skilled jobs, but this jumps to 27 per cent in destination countries. While 46 per cent held professional roles in Bhutan, just three per cent did so after migrating. Casual labour also rose from four per cent in Bhutan to 22 per cent abroad.
However, many migrants are currently students, and the World Bank cautions that the job downgrade may be temporary. Future employment outcomes willl depend on several factors and merit ongoing monitoring.
The World Bank recommends that Bhutan adopt three approaches to manage external migration. First, to retain talent, the Bank suggests improving job quality, diversifying the economy beyond hydropower and enhancing public sector jobs, especially in health and education.
Second, to reduce brain drain, the Bank advises the country to expand training and certication for skilled workers through international partnerships like Global Skills Partnerships, and consider service requirements or labour agreements with destination countries.
And third, to maximise migration benefits, the bank recommends Bhutan to provide financial guidance to prospective migrants, engage the diaspora, support returnees, and promote formal, lowcost remittance channels to boost national development. - Kuensel/ANN
