Highly-educated overseas Filipino workers: A double-edged sword
Published on: Sunday, May 12, 2024
Every year, waves of Filipinos pack their bags to set out across the globe.
MANILA: In a world that’s constantly on the move, the Philippines has carved out a unique position as a powerhouse in the export of skilled labour. Every year, waves of Filipinos pack their bags to set out across the globe, driven by the pursuit of brighter futures and better opportunities.
This mass migration, while opening doors for many, wields a double-edged sword: it propels Filipino talent onto the world stage, filling crucial roles in international industries, yet it simultaneously strains the local workforce, especially in critical sectors such as health care and education.
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These workers, known as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), are not just employees abroad; they are the lifeline of their homeland. Their remittances are the financial bedrock for countless families and a vital cog in the machinery of the Philippine economy.
However, this exodus of talent also brings to light the concerning issue of ‘brain drain,’ leaving the nation in a perpetual struggle to replenish its pool of professionals.
This phenomenon is reshaping the Filipino identity on the global map, striking a balance between loss and gain, between the home left behind and the promise of the world beyond.
Despite its relatively small population of just over 100 million, the Philippines has made a significant impact on the world’s skilled workforce. With an impressive 1.89 million highly educated Filipinos residing in OECD countries, the country ranks third in the world for having the largest educated diaspora, falling behind only India with 3.12 million and China with 2.25 million.
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The significance of the country’s contribution to the global pool of skilled workers becomes even more pronounced when considering the country’s much smaller population compared to India and China, both of which have populations exceeding a billion.
India’s population stands at approximately 1.325 billion, while China’s is around 1.379 billion.
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However, this success story is not without its challenges.
The country faces a critical issue: a high percentage of its highly educated workforce is emigrating abroad.
In recent years, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has continued to grow, with data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing a steady increase from 1,825,000 in 2021 to 1,963,000 in 2022.
These numbers represent a significant proportion of the country’s workforce, engaging in a diverse array of occupations across the globe.
Of the Filipinos returning from overseas, data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed that 49.6 per cent have some college education or higher, reflecting the level of education many choose to take abroad.
This phenomenon is more pronounced in the Philippines compared to countries like India, where the emigration rate of educated individuals is minimal despite its vast population.
This raises concerns about the sustainability of the country’s workforce development.
It is essential to note that while other countries like the United Kingdom (1.75 million), Germany (1.47 million), Poland (1.20 million), Mexico (1.14 million), and Russia (1.06 million) also supply skilled migrants, the situation in the Philippines is particularly striking.
The country’s departure of a significant portion of its skilled and educated workforce highlights its crucial role in the global marketplace. It also underscores the potential challenges to its workforce development and sustainability.
According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for 2022, Asia remains the predominant destination for OFWs, accounting for 80.8 per cent of the Filipino workforce abroad. This substantial proportion reflects the longstanding ties and geographic proximity that facilitate labour migration within the region.
The Middle East is another crucial employment hub, with Saudi Arabia hosting 23.0 per cent of OFWs alone. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait also significantly contribute, with 13.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent respectively.
These regions depend on the diverse skill set of OFWs, particularly in sectors such as health care, construction, and domestic services, where their hard work and adaptability are highly valued.
In addition to Asia and the Middle East, other parts of the world also draw Filipino talent. Europe accounts for 9.0 per cent of OFWs, while North and South America collectively make up 6.3 per cent, with countries like the United States and Canada becoming increasingly popular due to higher wages, better living conditions, and opportunities for family reunification.
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