Youth losing interest in moving abroad for jobs 

October 8, 2025

Abhishek Vij

Disillusionment among young people is growing in Punjab as diminishing opportunities for employment abroad force them to reconsider their future ambitions and seek alternatives at home.

It is well known that it is becoming increasingly difficult for Indian youth to travel legally, not only to Canada, but also to the United States, England, and other Western countries. Some heartbreaking news has recently emerged: a boat carrying twenty young men was attempting to cross from France to England by boat, when the boat capsized due to strong winds. A 29-year-old man from Punjab died. This is not an isolated incident; there is currently an atmosphere of uncertainty for Indian immigrants hiding or living abroad illegally. A 73-year-old woman who emigrated from Punjab to the United States three decades ago was humiliatingly deported back to India.

This has also been widely discussed in political circles. 80 percent of visa applications from Indian students in Canada have been rejected. This figure for 2025 is the highest in the last ten years. Now, not only has the business of sending young people eager to go abroad, both legally and illegally, to Western countries, and the associated business of IELTS centers, air tickets, foreign exchange, and GIC accounts in banks been affected. Now, these people and their agents are looking for alternatives not only in Europe but also in India. One option is to start arranging visas for Germany and other European countries to keep their business running. Statistics show that young people from Punjab, who had the option of going abroad as soon as they reached adulthood, are now losing that option. In 2012, a total of 5.5 lakh students enrolled in Canada, of whom 2.26 lakh were from India.

The number decreased in 2013 and halved in 2014. Meanwhile, unemployment and inflation increased in Canada. When Marc Conlon came to power, his strict regulations led to an increase in visa rejections. Punjabis are now hesitant to travel to Canada to avoid a refusal stamp on their passports. Recent tensions between Canada and India have made young people reluctant to travel to Canada. Even in the United States and England, Indian youth are not welcomed with open arms. The donkey route remains an option, but it’s no longer the same. According to the Ministry of External Affairs data, an average of 1,978 passport applications were received daily from January 1st to June 30th. In 2024, this figure was 2,906 per day.

It is expected that this year, young people will show the lowest interest in obtaining passports and migrating abroad. In such a situation, what options do young people from Punjab have? Job opportunities for young people abroad are dwindling day by day. This is why recently, expatriates in the United States demonstrated on a large scale, despite the apparent reasons being rising inflation and unemployment. Foreign governments are becoming wary, and despite any political changes, they are no longer relaxing their visa or immigration rules.

The situation is clear: the declining overseas opportunities have brought Punjab’s youth to a turning point. Now, they must find means of livelihood on their own land and soil. This is a significant challenge, as families have long believed that sending their children abroad secures their future. While this hope persists, competition is tougher and opportunities scarcer. It is now essential for young people to embrace innovation at home and focus on enriching their own country and families.