Creating employment and income-generating opportunities for the growing workforce entering the labor market each year remains a major challenge for Nepal. With limited opportunities within the country and economic progress falling short of expectations, a significant number of Nepali youth have migrated abroad for employment.
Pitambar Dhakal, former dean of Mid-Western University and a prominent civil society leader, noted, “The culture of going abroad for employment has increased significantly in Karnali as well. Even youth who had gone abroad for studies have returned home, only to leave again due to the belief that they cannot find suitable employment or earn a decent income here.”
Karnali, like the rest of the country, was deeply affected by years of conflict and political instability. During the 10-year armed insurgency led by the then-Maoists, many schools in Karnali were disrupted. The Maoist campaign against so-called “bourgeois education” led to widespread school dropouts in rural areas, depriving many children of educational opportunities. As a result, a generation of young people was unable to receive a proper education and access employment.
Dhakal also pointed out several other factors behind the continued outmigration: a lack of trust in earning potential through local investments; absence of a culture that respects labor; low wages and high cost of living; a growing desire to escape poverty quickly; declining interest in agriculture; the influence of globalization; increasing demand for Nepali workers in the global labor market; and the visible economic progress of returnees, which inspires others to migrate. In addition, the private sector has shown limited involvement in job creation, and rapid technological advancements have further expanded access to information about foreign opportunities.
Despite Nepal’s development potential, many citizens are compelled to seek employment abroad due to limited local options. While foreign employment has helped reduce poverty and unemployment, experts argue that reliance on it should gradually decrease. A domestic environment must be fostered where young people can thrive professionally.
Social worker Jagatjung Bista emphasized, “We should enhance the quality of foreign employment by ending the exploitation and deception faced by Nepali workers—even in countries where labor agreements exist. More importantly, we must cultivate a mindset that values working and earning within our own country, and one that respects all forms of labor.”
