Britain is the new favourite destination for young Keralites, says survey

File picture of Keralite students celebrating Onam in UK

KOCHI Aug 20: A recent survey by the International Institute of Migration and Development reveals that Keralites’ preference for Gulf countries as a destination for employment is waning. Instead, European countries, especially Britain, have become the new favorite among Malayalis.

The survey, which analyzed data from the past five years, shows a significant decline in migration to Gulf countries and a corresponding increase in migration to non-Gulf countries.

According to the report, the number of Keralites migrating to Gulf countries has been decreasing steadily, while the number of those opting for European countries has been on the rise.

Britain tops the list of preferred destinations, followed by other European countries. Additionally, the report notes that Malayali women are increasingly preferring European countries over Gulf countries for employment.

In 2018, only 10.8% of Malayali expats lived outside the Gulf region, but that number has now risen to 19.5%. Until 2003, the majority of expatriates migrated to Gulf countries, but since then, the number has not increased.

Although the report states that more people are moving to other countries, even now, more than 80% of Malayali expatriates still rely on the Gulf region.

Among Gulf countries, the UAE is the most preferred destination for Malayalis, with 38.6% of expats living there. Saudi Arabia follows closely with 16.9%. When it comes to destinations outside the Gulf region, Britain takes the top spot, accounting for 6% of the total expat population.

The survey also sheds light on the gender ratio of expats. In Gulf countries, the majority of Malayali expats are men, making up 85.4% of the total, while in non-Gulf countries, men account for 14.6% of the expat population. For most men, expatriation means the Gulf region.

However, women have a preference for European countries, including Britain. Among the total expat women, 59.5% work in Gulf countries and 40.5% in non-Gulf countries. The UAE has the highest number of female expats, accounting for 31.6%, followed by the UK with 14.7%.