OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS COUNTED AT 0.9 MILLION

• The number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked abroad was estimated at 904 thousand during April to September 1998. This was lower by 109 thousand from the 1997 figure of 1,013 thousand workers.
• Similarly, the number of OCWs decreased to 867 thousand in 1998. This indicated a drop of 101 thousand or 10.4 percent from the previous year. However, the percentage share of the OCWs to total OFWs remained almost the same with 95.9 percent in 1998 and 95.6 percent in 1997.

• During 1998, majority of these workers came from Luzon particularly National Capital Region (17.8%), Southern Tagalog (17.4%) and Central Luzon (14.6%). Likewise, the National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog ranked first and second in 1997 with 193 thousand and 191 thousand OFWs, respectively. Central Luzon (122 thousand OFWs) ranked fourth in 1997 after Ilocos Region (127 thousand).
• On the other hand, Caraga and Northern Mindanao had the least share of OFWs in 1998 with 1.5 percent each. This pattern was true for both regions during the same period in 1997, but with 1.3 percent share each.

MORE MALE OFWs THAN FEMALES

• Of the 904 thousand OFWs in 1998, about 469 thousand or 51.9 percent were males while 435 thousand or 48.1 percent were females. Male OFWs outnumbered female OFWs in both years with a sex ratio of 108 males per 100 females in 1998 and 121 males for every 100 females in 1997.

• Among OCWs, the male likewise dominated the females but with a lower sex ratio. During 1998, the sex ratio was about 106 male OCWs for every 100 female OCWs and 1997 reported a sex ratio of 119 males for every 100 females.
• The number of male OFWs decreased by 85 thousands, from 554 thousand in 1997 to only 469 thousand in 1998. The number of female OFWs likewise decreased by 24 thousand during 1998 with only 435 thousand reported OFWs that year from 1997 figure of 459 thousand.

FEMALE OFWs DOMINATED MALES IN YOUNGER AGE GROUP

• OFWs in age group 25-29 years old topped all the age groups with 23.2 percent in 1998 and 24.7 percent in 1997. Similarly, OCWs in the 25-29 years old category edged up for both years with 23.4 percent in 1998 and 25.2 percent in 1997.
• There were more female OFWs in younger age group particularly in the 25-29 bracket. Male OFWs took the lead starting with age group 30-34 and onwards. This trend continued for both 1997 and 1998.

• For the 25-29 age group, the sex ratio for 1997 was registered at 77 males for every 100 females compared to a lower sex ratio of 63 males for every 100 females during 1998.

GREATER NUMBER OF OFWs WERE IN ASIA

• Of the 904 thousand OFWs, 725 thousand or 80.2 percent were present in Asia during 1998. Most of them were in Saudi Arabia (253 thousand or 28.0%); in Hongkong (109 thousand or 12.1%); Taiwan (80 thousand or 8.8%) and Japan (67 thousand or 7.4%). These areas were also observed to be the most frequented places of work by OFWs during the same period in 1997.
• Outside Asia, the largest group of OFWs was in Europe with 71 thousand or 7.9 percent and North & South America with 58 thousand or 6.4 percent. The least number of OFWs were registered in Africa with 8 thousand or 0.9 percent in 1998 and 10 thousand or 1.0 percent in 1997.

• Saudi Arabia prevailed as the top country for male OFWs registering 191 thousand male OFWs in 1998, compared to only 62 thousand female OFWs during the same year. Similarly in 1997, about 211 thousand male OFWs landed jobs in Saudi Arabia compared to only 72 thousand female OFWs.
• On the other hand, Hongkong and Singapore attracted more female OFWs than male OFWs. Hongkong reported 103 thousand female OFWs compared to 6 thousand male OFWs, while Singapore had 51 thousand female OFWs compared to 14 thousand male OFWs. Other countries where females noticeably exceeded the male count were in Kuwait, Italy and Taiwan. This was the trend in 1998 that was also true during 1997.
• Many of the OCWs traveled to Western Asia where Saudi Arabia was located placing the highest number of OCWs in both years. There were 251 thousand OCWs (29.0%) in Saudi Arabia during 1998 and 280 thousand (28.9%) during 1997.

MORE OFWs WERE SERVICE WORKERS

• During 1998, about 379 thousand or 41.9 percent of the total OFWs landed jobs as service workers. Among this group were the cooks, waiters, barbers, beauticians, cleaners, helpers and related housekeeping service workers.
• The next largest occupation group were the production and related workers, transport equipment operators and laborers composed of bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, welders, tailors, dressmakers, among others. This group was counted at 355 thousand in 1998 representing 39.3 percent of the total OFWs.
• During 1997, service workers also recorded highest among OFWs at 41.4 percent with the production and related workers, transport equipment operators and laborers ranking close at 41.3 percent.

• On the other hand, the least number of OFWs during April to September 1998 were the agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry workers, fishermen and hunters with 3 thousand or 0.3 percent and administrative, executive & managerial workers with 5 thousand or 0.6 percent.

FEMALE OFWs AS SERVICE WORKERS AND MALE OFWs AS PRODUCTION AND RELATED WORKERS

• During 1998, the bulk of the 435 thousand female OFWs were service workers (75.4%) while the biggest portion of male OFWs (67.6%) were production and related workers, transport equipment operators and laborers. During 1997, female service workers registered a share of 74.7 percent while the male production workers recorded 69.1 percent.

• Of the 379 thousand service workers during 1998, about 101 thousand or 26.6 percent worked in Hongkong, 52 thousand or 13.7 percent worked in Saudi Arabia and 46 thousand or 12.1 percent worked in Singapore. Relatively, of the 355 thousand production and related workers, transport equipment operators and laborers, 136 thousand or 38.3 percent were based in Saudi Arabia, 47 thousand or 13.2 percent were in Taiwan and 29 thousand or 8.2 percent worked in Japan.
• Among OCWs, service workers topped the occupation group with about 42.4 percent and 41.7 percent share for 1998 to 1997, respectively. To some extent, helpers and related housekeeping service workers which are under the service workers category ranked first garnering 305 thousand or 35.2 percent of the total OCWs in 1998 while 319 thousand or 33.0 percent out of the 968 thousand OCWs in 1997.
• Production and related workers, transport equipment operators and laborers ranked second in 1998 with the bulk of the OCWs grouped under the transport equipment operators.

TOTAL REMITTANCE IN 1998 REACHED 38.8 BILLION PESOS

• From April to September 1998, the total remittance by OFWs hit 38.8 billion pesos. Of this amount, the total cash sent amounted to P29.2 billion pesos (75.2 %), cash brought home at P7.1 billion pesos (18.3 %) and remittance in kind at P2.5 billion pesos (6.5 %).

• Total remittance in 1998 was higher by P3.6 billion compared to the 1997 remittance of P35.2 billion pesos. The average remittance sent per OFW during the six month period in 1998 was estimated at P50,612. This was about P8,435 per month. During 1997, average remittance was estimated at P40,361.
• During 1998, male OFWs sent an average remittance of P62,498 while their female counterpart sent an average of P37,381. For 1997, the average remittance was lower for both sexes with P48,808 for males and P29,252 for females.
• About 743 thousand or 82.2 percent of the total OFWs sent cash remittances during the six month period of 1998. The number was higher for 1997 with 811 thousand OFWs sending cash remittances.
• Majority of the OFWs (492 thousand or 66.2%) sent remittances in 1998 ranging from P20,000 & over. The 1997 figure was 454 thousand (56.0%) for this category.
• Among OCWs, about P36.8 billion pesos were remitted during April to September 1998. Breaking this down, about P27.6 were cash sent, P6.8 billion were cash brought home while the remittance in kind added P2.3 billion.

REMITTANCES THROUGH BANKS STILL THE MOST POPULAR

• Among the 743 thousand OFWs with regular cash remittances in 1998, about 446 thousand or 60.0 percent sent cash remittances through banks. The rest resorted to other means such as through "door to door" delivery, through friends/co-workers and agencies or local offices. The 1997 results also showed more OFWs sending cash through banks (506 thousand or 62.4%).

• During 1998, cash remittance sent through banks amounted to P19.3 billion, "door to door" delivery with P 4.3 billion and agency or local office with P1.0 billion. The 1997 figure was estimated at P16.0 billion cash remittances through banks.

ASIAN COUNTRIES TOPPED CASH REMITTANCES

• The OFWs in Asia sent the highest amount during 1998, with P21.2 billion (72.5% of the total cash remittance) representing P35,753 average cash remittance. The 1997 amount was lower at P18.0 billion (73.5%) or P28,398 for each OFW.

• Cash remittances from OFWs in European countries amounted to P3.2 billion in 1998 ranking second after those in the Asian countries.
• Average cash remittance was recorded highest among OFWs in North and South America during 1998 with P59,806. However, in 1997 Africa posted the highest with P48,318.

HIGHER REMITTANCES FROM PRODUCTION AND RELATED WORKERS

• During 1998, production and related workers, transport and equipment operators and laborers sent higher cash remittance of P12.7 billion; followed by service workers with P8.6 billion, and professional, technical and related workers, P5.8 billion. The same occupation group topped during 1997 with the production & related workers posting total cash remittance of P12.1 billion and the services group with P7.3 billion.
• In terms of average cash remittance, the administrative, executive and managerial workers ranked first with P66,341 in 1998. Next were the professional, technical and related workers with P66,289. On the other hand, agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry workers, fishermen and hunters sent the least average cash remittance of P27,133.

Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines