Young Filipinas train for jobs as nurses overseas

The global demand for Filipino workers will remain strong despite fears of a recession in the United States, the country’s main labor export agency believes.

Many foreign countries, particularly developed countries, are still approaching the Philippines wanting to recruit Filipino workers, particularly skilled laborers and professionals, says Rosalinda Baldoz, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

“Foreign employers come to us because they are short of skilled workers and their nationals refuse to handle the dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs,” Baldoz said. Even in the U.S., where there are fears of a looming recession, Baldoz said the agency sees a growing demand for temporary workers in hotels as well as nurses.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand also have a strong demand for construction workers, health, IT professionals and skilled workers in trade, hotel, restaurants as well as teachers.

Middle Eastern countries also need thousands of foreign workers due to heightened economic activity there, she added.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman will offer job opportunities in the construction, medical, retail, energy engineers and planners, telecommunications, hotel and restaurant and the information technology sectors, she said.
East Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia will continue to hire Filipinos for the construction and ship building sectors, factory workers, IT and healthcare, managers and supervisors for the gaming industry.

Nurses, architects, entertainers, engineers and draftsmen will also be in demand, she added.