Economic stagnation, job mismatch behind ‘distress migration’ from Punjab: Experts

Experts link Punjab's distress migration to economic stagnation and job mismatches, highlighting systemic failures in political leadership.

Even as Punjab’s Economic Survey 2025-26 notes that a combination of “pull” and “push” factors is behind brain drain from the State, experts argue that Punjab is witnessing ‘distress migration’ owing to the continued failure of the political leadership and governments to address the root causes pushing people to leave.

According to the survey, a range of “push” and “pull” factors has led many youths to leave their hometowns in search of greener pastures abroad. “Better standards of living in developed economies such as Canada, the U.S., Australia and the U.K. remain the biggest pull factor attracting youths with high aspirations,” it states.

“On the other hand, a rising number of push factors are also at play. Lack of employment opportunities that suit the aspirations and qualifications of Punjabis is one of the leading reasons. This is substantiated by the fact that of the total 1,22,842 applicants registered with the State’s Unemployment Bureau in 2025 (as of 30th September), 58% were unskilled and 42% categorised as skilled,” the survey says. 

This indicates a possible mismatch between available jobs and the aspirations and qualifications of applicants, forcing a brain drain from the State, notes the survey, adding that as agricultural growth has reached a plateau, several children of farmers have been migrating abroad in search of employment.

Economist Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Professor of Eminence (economics) at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, says that an uncongenial politico-economic system and socio-cultural conditions in the home country often create an ‘enabling-environment’ for push factors, and the congenial system in host countries strengthens an ‘enabling-environment’ for pull factors.

“Recent studies in Punjab show that unemployment, corruption, a bad politico-administrative system, fear of drug addiction and prevalence of social insecurity are the major push factors behind migration of Punjabi youth,” he tells The Hindu.