An Exploratory Study on the Factors Driving Filipino Professionals to Take Non-Professional Jobs Abroad

This paper investigates the forces that lead educated and trained Filipinos into non- professional work positions overseas. It attempts to analyze the motivations and barriers they encounter and the socio- economic situation that makes them decide when going from professional to non- professional work in another country. The study will determine personal and economic considerations underlying the shift in profession; factors leading return including push drivers from Philippines such as poor employment prospects, low wages, and job uncertainty; and pull dynamics of destination countries like higher income rates, good prospects to upgrade employment profile, lure for migration. It also explores the problems/barriers faced by Filipino professionals who accept high-and low-skilled jobs abroad and analyzes their consequences on the labor. The results of this research seek to further examine the labor migration behavior of educated Filipinos; thereby emphasizing the intricate interactions among economic necessity, individual aspirations and global labor market requirements. Finally, the research offers implications that can be used as a reference for policy makers, labor organizations and future researchers in migration, labor economics and social advancement.