Male and Female OFWs by Occupation, 2014

Major Occupation
Group

Both
Sexes

Male

Fema
le

No. of OFWs (in millions)

2.32

1.149

1.17

Total (in percentages)

100.0

100.0

100.0

2.5

3.6

1.5

11.4

9.7

13.0

6.1

9.4

2.9

5.3

3.5

7.1

Service and sales workers

16.5

14.8

18.3

Trades & related workers

12.8

25.1

0.8

Plant/machine operators &

assemblers

12.5

22.7

2.5

Laborers and unskilled workers

32.8

11.3

54.0

Officials of govt & specialinterest org, corporate exec,

managers, supervisors
Professionals
Technicians & associate
professionals
Clerks

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2014 Survey on Overseas Filipinos

Every year, more and more Filipinos leave the country to work abroad.
They search for better opportunities to be able to support their families at
home. This table shows the distribution of male and female Overseas Filipino
Workers by Occupation. It contains the results of the 2014 survey on
Overseas Filipinos conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority. There are
eight major occupation groups namely: professionals, technicians and
associate professionals, clerks, service and sales workers, trades and related
workers, plant or machine operators and assemblers, laborers and unskilled
workers. Officials of government and special-interest organizations,
corporate executives, managers and supervisors are clustered together in
one group.
As of 2014, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers around the world
was estimated at 2.32 million. There were slightly more female OFWs at
1.170 million than male OFWs at 1.149 million. Laborers and unskilled

workers was the biggest among occupation groups, comprising 32.8% of the
entire OFW population. In contrast, only 2.5% of OFWs were employed as
government officials, corporate executives, managers, etc.
The largest groups of male Overseas Filipino Workers were trade
workers and plant or machine operators and assemblers at 25.1 and 22.7%
respectively. Clerical work is the least common among male OFWs, only at
3.5%. On the other hand, more than half of the female OFWs carry out
manual labor and unskilled work. Service and sales workers constitute the
second highest percentage of female OFW workers at 18.3%. Least common
are female trade workers abroad at 0.8%.
It is important that we take cognizance of the socio-economic
characteristics and overall status of our OFWs abroad as they continue to
play a pivotal role in sustaining our economy. We must also identify which
occupational opportunities need to be opened in our country and determine
the needed legislations for the protection of our workers abroad.