DUBAI: More and more young Filipinos are opting to work abroad even just after their college graduation. Their primary reason is all about being practical. They intend to work abroad mainly because of the high pay, as per the study conducted by the Far Eastern University (FEU), alongside eight other universities in the Philippines.
In this 2015 survey, more than 4,000 freshmen aged 16 to 18 were covered. And as time flies, the millennials’ dream of joining other countries’ workforce have been strengthened in this day and age where social media is king and the ‘”wanderlust” in them have been replaced by fernweh (lit. “farsickness”). In other words, homesickness or sepanx, as in separation anxiety, is no longer an issue for the new generation of OFWs, The Filipino Times finds.
Indeed, the demographics of today’s migrant Filipino workers have shifted from the forty-some-year-old family men in the 1970s, when the government opened its door to overseas work, to those in the 25 to 34 age bracket comprising today’s millennials.
Those in the 30 to 34 age bracket comprise the biggest number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with 22 percent of the total population of Filipinos working overseas.
This is narrowly followed by those in the 25 to 29 age bracket at 21.9%. These ages comprise the biggest workforce spread throughout different sectors, from managerial positions to technical and associate positions, clerical support workers, skilled and craft workers and service crews at burger joints.
Foreign companies’ online hiring through job search engines, have worked to the advantage of OFWs’ new generation, too.
Their character
Robie Torre-Gonzales, president of the Filipino Human Resources Practitioners’ Association Dubai & NE (FILHR-DNE), said millennials are ambition-driven.
“We characterize them as mature, autonomous, self-directed, and receptive to change,” she said.
Torre-Gonzales said hiring millennials is a matter of strategy and is dependent on the business environment. If this is the strategy, the company must develop programs and build a culture that will engage millennials, Torre-Gonzales said.
“While it’s true that they speak their minds out and are very assertive, there are still organizations and cultures that do not highlight this entitlement and therefore, require mutual respect. That’s where the employee-employer relationship comes in,” she added.
Survey
Meantime, Sophie Theen, London-based expert in global mobility, said in a LinkedIn article posted May 2019, that an eye-opening journey around the world is becoming an increasingly common experience.
The changing recruitment process is also a factor. Theen said companies now are looking for global expansion and hire people anywhere. The flexibility of systems and the environment make hiring easier because of globalization.
Digital world
Millennials use digital platforms to find works they want.
Social media expert Philippe Jose Hernandez explained: “Social media and the digital world have made communication easier, and communication is no longer just for personal purposes, but for professional ones, too. One such impact is on employment and recruitment.”
“On the part of jobseekers, networks like LinkedIn, and JobStreet act like the Facebook of employment. These are hubs for jobs. One only needs to create his profile, and sometimes, job offers can arrive via e-mail from recruiters who reviewed your posted credentials,” he added.
Hernandez said millennials are very movable. That is, in a way they expect all opportunities around the world, and grab anything they want to fit in.
Reasons for living and working abroad
Human Resources Director Vagelyn Tumbaga-Federico enumerated some of the current factors why many millennials nowadays consider living and working abroad:
More job opportunities – Millennials have the tendency to explore work within their capacities. They want to experience everything they need to grow for their progress. They’ve been encouraged to follow their dreams and passions.
Cultural benefits and understanding – They are known to be adventurous. They want to broaden their perception and understanding of the world.
More fulfillment and happiness, less drudgery – Millennials care more about happiness and fulfillment than previous generations like the boomers. Working abroad offers the kind of diversity of opportunities that let them experiment and find the right kind of skills to jumpstart a successful career. Opportunities abroad help them find roles that are meaningful and a better match to their area of study/interest.
Work-life balance and better standard of living – Millennials have a strong desire to work-life balance. They have the nomadic urge and a thirst for knowledge like no other ones before. They want to have a successful career while enjoying their other aspects of life.
