3 out of 4 Filipinos prefer to work in locality – study

Is reverse-migration finally happening? A recent study shows that more Filipinos are now staying in their hometowns to find so-called “greener pastures” in terms of work opportunities, challenging conventional public perception that Filipinos are prone to employment migration.

The study conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the job search website, JobStreet.com, revealed yesterday that three out four of its 31,000 respondents nationwide said they prefer to find work in their locality than relocate elsewhere.

Most of these workers were registered in Metro Manila and Central Visayas. They were followed by Davao, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, and CARAGA regions.

Among the reasons they cited for staying in their hometowns were their family and friends; work environment and culture fit; and work-life balance.

Jobstreet.com Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca pointed out that this disposition among the respondents was more visible in seasoned workers.

“Older, more educated and experienced Filipinos prefer to work locally,” Gioca said during his presentation. “As Filipinos climb up the corporate ladder, they prefer to stay and work in the Philippines instead of going overseas for work opportunities,” he added.

The report covered employed and unemployed workers in the 15 to 55 age group registered in the JobStreet. Their educational attainment range from being a high school graduate to having a masteral or doctoral degrees.

Meanwhile, the remaining 25 percent of the covered respondents cited low salaries offered by local companies, poor benefits and incentives, and their families’ financial reasons for opting to migrate outside their locality for work.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz lauded the latest development saying it shows the government efforts to improve local employment opportunities is finally starting to take effect.

“This is consistent with our campaign and thrust of our President (Aquino)… to provide our workers with local jobs because whether we like it or not, there is really a higher social cost when our workers leave the country,” Baldoz told reporters in an interview.

“We are happy with the findings that indicate that many of our people still prefer to work in the country,” she added.

DOLE has been aggressively promoting local employment as an alternative to overseas jobs through its PhilJobNet, the government’s official job portal, which currently has around 80,000 posted vacancies.