Healthcare, construction jobs in demand in 2014

More overseas job opportunities await Filipinos this year especially in the sectors of tourism, healthcare, and construction, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.

In a presentation, the POEA said the Middle East will remain as the largest labor market for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) especially in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Among the most in-demand jobs in these countries are in the sectors of hotel and tourism, construction, energy and healthcare.

Israel, on the other hand, is expected to open its door for more Filipino caregivers while Iraq is currently in need of about 7,000 nurses, the POEA said.

“They (Middle Eastern countries) have shown a lot of resiliency, they have shown na insulated sila, na hindi sila ganun ka-affected ng economic crises,” said POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac in an interview with Ruth Cabal aired on “Balitanghali” on Monday.

Cacdac said most in-demand jobs in the Middle Eastern region are for semi-skilled workers such as welders, pipe fitters and wiremen, but added that the region also has high demand for professionals especially in the field of construction such as civil engineers, mechanical engineers and architects.

Qatar, who is set to host the World Cup in 2022, will be in need of about 1 million workers in the fields of construction, hotel and healthcare, the POEA said.

Asian countries such as Japan, China, Vietnam and Indonesia are also expected to open more jobs for overseas workers especially for teachers, IT workers, designers, architects, engineers and entertainers, according to POEA.

India, whose economy continues to soar, is especially in need of more workers in the field of furniture design, highway and railway construction, food services, agri and aqua culture, and entertainment and hospitality.

Macau, meanwhile, has high demand for more workers in the construction, tourism and healthcare sectors, while South Korea is in need of more factory workers.

European countries such as Australia and New Zealand are also expected to open more job opportunities particularly in the fields of agriculture and forestry, education, engineering, finance, trade and transportation, tourism, and health and social services.

The Philippines remains fourth worldwide in terms of countries with the largest remittances. In 2013 alone, an estimated 1.6 billion Filipinos left the country to work abroad, the “Balitanghali” report said.

“Syempre po mas malaki kasi ang sahod abroad kesa sa Pilipinas,” said Joy, a TESDA trainee, on why she wants to work abroad.

Cacdac, on the other hand, said the Filipinos’ remarkable skills and work ethics are just some of their advantages over other overseas workers.

“Yung kalidad kasi at ‘yung respectability at pagkatanyag ng Filipino workers, ‘yan ay developed na over the years,” he said. — Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News