SWS: 7% of Filipino households have OFW

At least seven percent of Filipino households have an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who help sustain the family, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The poll conducted from December 10 to 14, 2022 showed 75% of the households often receive money from the OFW,  while 17% said they receive “sometimes,” five percent said “seldom,” and three percent said “never.”

SWS said 17% or nearly two out of 10 adult Filipinos aspire to live abroad, while seven percent adult Filipinos are currently looking for work overseas.

According to the survey, Canada topped with 16% as the most cited country “where one aspires to work,” it was followed by Saudi Arabia (12%), Kuwait (9%), United Arab Emirates (9%), Japan (7%), Qatar (6%), and United States of America (6%).

The survey was conducted using a face-to-face method of 1,200 adults aged 18 and above nationwide, with a sampling error margin of +2.8%.

Based on the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released in December 2022, the number of OFWs during April to September 2021 was estimated at 1.83 million.

“The number of OFWs increased by 3% or 53.57 thousand overseas workers from 2020 to 2021. In 2020, OFWs were registered at 1.77 million, of which 1.71 million were Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) and about 64 thousand were other Filipino workers abroad without valid working visa and work permits,” the PSA said.

In 2021, more women were reported to be working overseas which accounted for 60.2% or 1.10 million, while 39.8% or 0.73 million were male OFWs, it said.

It added that the same trend was observed in 2020 where 59.6% OFWs were women, while 40.4% were men.—LDF, GMA Integrated News