While return of skilled professionals may create pressure on India’s competitive job market, especially with limited high-skill job opportunities, there is a parallel upside. Many of these returnees are bringing overseas savings and global exposure, which could drive new investments and entrepreneurial ventures in India.
The global logistics and supply chain ecosystem is undergoing a shift in 2025. Rapid advancements in AI, major trade realignments and dramatic migration patterns are converging to reshape industries and economies. A surprising but central player in this transformation is the movers and packers’ industry, which is a key contributor to the sector’s overall growth. What is significant is the ongoing reverse immigration wave, particularly from North America back to India—fuelled by AI-induced job insecurity, tighter immigration policies in Canada and the USA and rising geopolitical tensions, which are impacting the global economy
AI and threat to tech Jobs
In early 2025, USA President Trump announced aggressive federal funding into AI research and automation, aiming to maintain the USA’s dominance in the global tech economy. While this may secure long-term innovation, it has rattled the job security of thousands of IT professionals, especially immigrants working on short-term or precarious contracts. Facing looming layoffs as AI replaces roles in coding, testing, and support functions, many Indian-origin professionals are choosing to return home than wait to be displaced. This reverse migration has intensified in the past two months, creating ripple effects across sectors, especially relocation and logistics.
Canada’s immigration clampdown
Canada’s new immigration policies have made the situation more complex for international professionals and students:
- Non-renewal of Post-Graduate Work Permits is forcing many to leave the country
- A cap on international student intakes introduced in late 2024 is shrinking educational migration, with fewer transition options to permanent residency
- The diplomatic standoff between India and Canada in 2024, which led to visa slowdowns, consular strain, and diplomatic disengagement, has disillusioned many in the Indian diaspora
All these developments are contributing to a large-scale reverse migration trend, not only from the USA but also from Canada, with professionals, students, and families opting to resettle in India for stability and opportunity.
Modern migration
This surge in cross-border relocations has fuelled massive demand for trusted and reliable relocation services. The industry, particularly Indian-origin companies operating internationally, has risen to the occasion—bringing professionalism, precision, and scale to this transition. Leading the charge is Agarwal Packers and Movers, a household name among NRIs worldwide. Known for its legacy, customer trust, and reliability, APML has played a pivotal role in facilitating smooth, consolidated, and cost-effective relocations. With a presence across North America, the Middle East, and Europe, APML has:
- Leveraged consolidation strategies to offer affordable options to individuals and families relocating in bulk waves
- Negotiated competitive rates with suppliers and partners to reduce the cost of movement
- Created standardised systems for customs, documentation, insurance, and tracking—ensuring a seamless experience across borders
It is too early to definitively predict the full impact of the ongoing reverse immigration wave.
