THE deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is now back to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
In a press briefing on Thursday, DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said current deployment data indicate that the number of OFWs being deployed is back to the level prior to 2020, when the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic struck.
“In my estimate, based on the first semester, we are already at pre-pandemic levels. If we reach two million by year’s end, that is pre-pandemic level,” Cacdac said.
Based on data provided by the DMW, for the first half of 2023, there are already 1,291,420 OFWs deployed, including 966,479 land-based and 324,941 sea-based.
The 2023 data is already 37.46 percent higher than the 939,466 OFWs deployed, including 654,756 land-based and 284,710 sea-based, during the same period last year.
For the entirety of 2022, there were 2,057,040 OFWs deployed, including 1,495,670 land-based and 561,370 sea-based.
To recall, the OFW sector was one of the most affected industry during the pandemic due to border controls, travel restrictions, and lockdowns that were imposed globally.
Despite the significant recovery, the acting DMW chief said there is a need for the country to take note of the changes in the demand for jobs abroad.
He noted how the overseas job orders now are more on healthcare, tourism, automation, infrastructures, and green jobs.
“The world is different four years ago. It is not the same world that we are living in. The diversity of occupations and job market is more challenging. It isn’t the same as during the pre-pandemic time,” said the official.
“The world has transformed and it’s up to us to keep up with the changes,” added Cacdac.
