Filipino jobseekers have said that they are interested in working abroad, if given an opportunity to do so, according to a recent survey done by JobStreet.com. An overwhelming 82% have said that they want to work abroad if given the chance, in contrast to just 7% who expressed no interest in doing so.
When asked about how serious they are in working abroad, 39% said they are actively looking for such opportunities, while another 22% said they are passively seeking such opportunities. Another 27% said they are still contemplating the pros and cons of doing so, while another 12% said they are not serious, or not interested at all in doing so.
Of those who are not interested in working abroad, 48% cited family as the primary reason for not wanting to work abroad, while another 22% said that there are good career prospects here. Another 11% mentioned that they prefer to remain in their comfort zones, and 13% mentioned other factors.
On the other hand, of those who want to work abroad, 60% mentioned better financial remuneration as the main driving factor, while 15% cited career growth. Another 10% would do so for the sake of their children’s education, 8% said that the chance to travel as an influential factor, and only 1% would do so because they want to follow their spouses to that particular country.
When queried about which country of preference they want to work in, 23% have indicated that they want to work in America, 21% chose Canada as their main destination, and 18% prefer Australia. Another 9% opted for Britain, while 7% wanted to go to New Zealand.
On another matter, about 48% of jobseekers surveyed said that they will look for jobs abroad through recruitment firms or headhunting agencies, while another 22% would do so through newspaper or online advertisements. Another 19% said they would look for such jobs through referrals.
About 500 managers, senior executives and executives in the Philippines participated in the survey in May 2011.