AN OVERVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR MARKET FOR OFWS
(Source: Ms. Carmelita Dimzon, Deputy Administrator, The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, presented during JobsDB's Business Forum for CEOs held last March 17 at the Holiday Inn, Manila Galleria.)

I. Number of Filipinos overseas: 7.76 million

  • 3.38M documented
  • 2.86 immigrants/permanent residents
  • 1.5 irregularly documented

II. Top five destinations of OFWs:

(1) Saudi Arabia
(2) Hong Kong
(3) Japan
(4) United Arab Emirates
(5) Taiwan

III. Top Five Destinations of Immigrants:

(1) USA
(2) Canada
(3) Australia
(4) Japan
(5) United Kingdom

IV. OFW Facts and Figures

10:1 - Ratio of Filipinos overseas vs. Philippine population
2,700 - Number of daily departing Filipinos for overseas work
197 countries - host Filipino workers
29-39 years old - Age group of migrating Filipinos
40 per cent have reached college level

V. OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAND-BASED WORKERS

  • High ageing population and low birth rates in developed countries in America, Europe and Asia
  • Labor shortages worldwide in medical, education and other sectors
  • Billion-dollar infrastructure development projects in the Middle East
  • EU Proposal for “immigration for work” scheme
  • Changes in labor and immigration policies favoring OFWs

VI. MAJOR THREATS FOR OFWS

•Global economic slowdown
•Restrictive labor & immigration policies of many host countries after 9/11
•Japan immigration policy on entry of OPAs
•US retrogression of E3 visa
•Nationalization policy of ME and other host countries
•Growing competition from other labor-sending countries
•Volatile security conditions in the Middle East
•EU enlargement favoring regionalization

VII. STRENGTHS OF THE OFW

•Skill competence (multi-skill)
•English language proficiency
•Western-oriented training and education
•Caring attitude
•Adaptability to multi-cultural environment

VIII. WEAKNESSES OF THE OFW

•Relatively “expensive”
•Attitudinal problems: vocal, litiginous
•Adventurous; loves to try irregular modes

 

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