Demand for Indian workers in 6 countries of the world, where are the job opportunities?

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently said that Germany needs at least 90 thousand Indian workers every year. After this the question is whether there are great employment opportunities for Indians in America, Britain, Canada, Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia? How many jobs are there in these countries and how many Indians are getting work?

According to the Government of India’s NITI Aayog Report 2026, based on data available till February 5, 2025, there were about 72 lakh job vacancies in the US, 8 lakh in Britain and about 5 lakh in Canada. It is estimated that there are approximately 27 lakh vacant posts in the Gulf countries as well. However, these are combined figures for all countries, not just jobs available to Indians.

1. America: More than 71 lakh jobs vacant

In August 2026, about 7.1 million jobs were vacant in America. According to the US Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number was 73.35 lakh in July. That means the number of vacancies has decreased in a month. There are opportunities for Indians in America in fields like technology, engineering, health and research. Here foreign professionals get jobs through H-1B visa. According to a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report, 71% of H-1B petitions approved in FY 2024 were from people of Indian origin. This figure is for the approvals received by Indians, not the total US requirement.

2. Britain: More than 7 lakh vacancies

Around 7.07 lakh jobs were vacant in Britain between May and July 2026. Workers are needed in health services, social care, education and other sectors. A large number of Indian nationals are already working in Britain. According to government data, around 10.29 lakh jobs were registered in the name of Indian citizens in December 2025. This was the highest figure for any foreign nationality group in Britain. Indian jobs have grown by 54,200 in a year.

3 Canada: Target 2.30 lakh foreign workers in 2026

Canada has set a target of 2.30 lakh temporary workers by 2026. Among these, 1.70 lakh people can come under the International Mobility Program and 60 thousand people under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This goal is not only for Indians, but for the workers of all countries of the world. In Canada, foreign workers are needed in sectors related to health services, construction, agriculture and technology. The NITI Aayog report also estimated around 5 lakh vacancies in Canada.

4. Russia: Consent of 70 thousand Indian workers in 2026

Demand for Indian workers in Russia is increasing. According to a report dated 3 October 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told a parliamentary committee that Russia has agreed to take in around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year. They are in demand in the field of construction and logistics. Earlier in January 2026, a DW report had expected at least 40 thousand Indians to move to Russia during 2026. According to the report, by the end of 2025, 70 to 80 thousand Indians were working there. An agreement was also reached between India and Russia in December 2025 regarding the movement of workers.

5. UAE: More than 2 lakh Indians get immigration clearance in 2025

UAE is one of the major employment hubs for Indian workers. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs, 2,00,686 Indian workers were granted immigration clearance to visit the UAE in 2025. About 43.26 lakh Indians were living in the UAE as of March 2026. There are job opportunities in UAE in sectors like construction, hotel, transport, logistics, finance and technology. In ManpowerGroup’s 2026 survey, 56% of UAE employers planned to increase headcount between January and March. These companies aim to recruit, not a fixed number of Indian workers.

6. Saudi Arabia: Over 1.36 lakh Indians allowed in 2025

Saudi Arabia also has a large presence of Indian workers. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 1,36,812 Indian workers were given immigration clearance to go to Saudi Arabia in 2025. About 27.48 lakh Indians lived there as of March 2026. Foreign workers work in construction, agriculture, hotels, retail and domestic services in Saudi Arabia. According to the US State Department’s 2025 report, there are about 13.2 million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, about 77% of the total workforce there. This number belongs to workers from all countries, not just Indians.

What does it mean for Indian workers?

It is clear from these figures that there are various employment opportunities for Indians abroad. Technology, health and specialized work are important in America and Britain. Recruitment for construction and logistics in Russia is on the rise. While the UAE and Saudi Arabia are major employment centers for Indian workers in the construction, transport, hotel and service sectors. The Ministry of External Affairs’ immigration clearance figures also do not indicate the total intake. This is mainly for those Indian workers who have to seek approval before going abroad due to ECR passports.