Are you planning to look for work abroad in the future? Did you know that there are countries that offer more jobs than others?
Also Read: Here are the 25 Countries Where Filipinos are Not Allowed to Work
If you know which countries have a higher demand for various kinds of work, your chances of getting hired in those countries would become higher, as well. Do you have any guesses? Let’s find out if the country you’re eyeing to go to for work made it in the top 10 list of countries with the most number of jobs for OFWs.
10 Countries with the Most Number of Jobs for Filipinos
If you’ll look at employment in the Philippines, you’ll learn that there are many Filipinos who had a job back in 2019, but this, of course, went down when the pandemic hit.
In this post, we will take a look at the data shared by WorkAbroad.ph of the top 10 countries with the highest demand for OFWs as of June 2019. Are you ready to find out? Let’s take a look.
The top 10 countries with the highest demand for OFWs are as follows:
#1 Saudi Arabia (72,316 jobs)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known as the leading destination for OFWs abroad. With job openings ranging from construction, healthcare, domestic work, to retail and others, OFWs won’t have a hard time finding work in the Kingdom. Also, the ease of application for work in Saudi is much preferred by Filipinos than other parts of the world. Of note, Saudi has also made progressive changes in its labor system, allowing more women to participate in the economy and enjoy rights that were exclusively enjoyed by men in the past such as traveling alone and driving in the Kingdom.
#2 Qatar (10,146 jobs)
Qatar is one of the countries in the Middle East where plenty of migrant workers go to find work. Recently, an initiative to push for the abolishment of the kafala system, which was dubbed as a type of “modern slavery” in the region, had been gaining momentum until the start of 2020. Despite this setback, many migrant workers continue to work in the country. Most of them are skilled workers (machine operators, construction workers, laborers, etc) and household service workers (HSWs).
#3 Kuwait (5,396 jobs)
Although several unfortunate events in the past have nearly cut the long-standing work relationship between Kuwait and the Philippines, the Gulf country remains to be one of the leading employers of OFWs particularly household service workers (HSWs) and those working in the service industry to this day.
#4 United Arab Emirates (5,037)
There is much to be said about the UAE as an open country and one of the most progressive nations in the region and the world. With outstanding leadership and governance, the UAE has been one of the leading destinations for expats in the past. The UAE’s diversity and openness to all kinds of people and cultures have made it one of the most appealing destinations for migrant workers and OFWs for work. The leading job openings in the country to date include healthcare workers (nurses, healthcare attendants/assistants), service workers (waiters/waitresses, security guards), and skilled workers (technicians, laborers).
#5 Australia (2,576 jobs)
As the first country outside the Middle East or Asia to make it on the list, there are plenty of good things to be said about Australia. For one, Australia is one of the most beautiful places to live in. And if you’re Filipino, you won’t be surprised to meet familiar faces as there has been a growing Filipino community in the country. The majority of job openings for OFWs in the country are allocated to skilled workers across various fields.
#6 Oman (2,053 jobs)
In the past, Oman has consistently ranked among the top 10 destinations for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) because of its safe and friendly culture, as well as the plethora of job opportunities ranging from health care staff, retail workers and cosmetologists. Because of this, Oman is among the highest sources of remittances in the Philippines. And because of the country’s migrant worker protection laws, Oman has recorded fewer cases of abuses than any other Middle Eastern country.
#7 United Kingdom (1,914 jobs)
The United Kingdom ranks among the highest-paying countries for OFWs because of their currency, the pound sterling. However, the UK also is one of the countries with the highest cost of living than anywhere in the world. So if you’re planning to work in the UK, you have to be prepared to adjust to their lifestyle and culture. The runaway winner for the most in-demand jobs in the European nation are health-related roles such as nurses, physicians, and other healthcare staff.
#8 Bahrain (1,571 jobs)
Keeping in step with its neighboring countries in the region, the Kingdom of Bahrain is also known as one of the top destinations for OFWs to this day. It is one of the countries with the most number of Filipino residents. As such, Philippine holidays such as the Philippine Independence Day is being commemorated in the Kingdom. Filipinos in Bahrain commonly work as accountants, construction contractors, engineers, sales associates, as well as business and government support staff.
#9 Angola (994 jobs)
As one of the leading oil producers in the region, Angola, in recent years, has become one of the countries with a growing demand for OFWs in various fields. In the past, Angola has needed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to work primarily in the oil and marine industries, but they are now looking to employ more craftsmen and skilled workers, as well.
#10 Brunei (918 jobs)
The Sultanate of Brunei, though a small inland territory, is considered as one of the wealthiest nations of the world. On top of that, it also offers tax-free income to expatriates, which complements its cheap cost of living. For these reasons, many OFWs are encouraged to find work in the Kingdom. Among the top jobs offered to OFWs in the Kingdom include domestic work and skilled work.
These are the top 10 countries that offer the most number of jobs to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). And while traveling abroad is not encouraged at the moment, we can expect to see an even higher increase in the demand for workers abroad once we see more economies begin to get back on track.
Did you get all your guesses right? What do you think will be the in-demand jobs overseas during the second half of the year? Which countries are you still planning to go to for work once everything settles down? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below?
ALSO READ: Top 10 Sidelines and Business Ideas Every Filipino Can Do Without Leaving their Day Job