OFWs grew 1.5% to 2.19 million in 2024

The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) grew 1.5 percent to 2.19 million in 2024 from 2.16 million the previous year, with Asia remaining the primary destination, according to the latest data compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Overseas contract workers, those with existing work contracts, comprised the vast majority, accounting for 97.9 percent of the total workers abroad. The remaining 2.1 percent of OFWs used non-immigrant visas such as tourist or student visas.

Women made up 57.2 percent of the total OFWs, or 1.25 million workers, a slight increase from 55.6 percent in 2023. Workers aged 45 years and older represented the largest share by age group at 25.8 percent.

The total remittance sent by OFWs in 2024 amounted to P262.20 billion, which included P214.31 billion in cash sent, P40.56 billion in cash brought home and P7.33 billion in kind. The average remittance per OFW was P129,000, up from P123,000 in 2023.

Asia was the destination for 74.5 percent of all OFWs, followed by Europe at 10.6 percent, North and South America at 9.2 percent, Australia at 4.4 percent and Africa at 1.3 percent. Saudi Arabia was the leading country destination, accounting for 21.9 percent, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 12.4 percent.

Elementary occupations were the most common type of work, employing 43.6 percent of all OFWs. Plant and machine operators and assemblers made up the second most common occupation at 15.4 percent, followed by service and sales workers at 12.7 percent.

Among female OFWs, 68.4 percent were engaged in elementary occupations. For male OFWs, plant and machine operators and assemblers was the most common occupation at 32.8 percent.

OFWs from the CALABARZON region comprised the largest regional share, accounting for 20.5 percent of all OFWs. This was followed by Central Luzon at 11.3 percent and Western Visayas at 9.5 percent.

Luzon remained the dominant source of OFWs among the major island groups at 62.9 percent.