Manila: The number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in 2024 has risen to an estimated 2.19 million, marking a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year's total of 2.16 million, as per the data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The report highlights the significant role of OFWs in the country's economy through their remittances, which totaled 262 billion pesos, or approximately 4.46 billion U.S. dollars, in 2024.

According to Namibia Press Agency, overseas contract workers (OCWs), or Filipinos with existing employment contracts abroad, comprised 97.9 percent of the total OFW population. The remaining 2.1 percent consisted of Filipinos working full-time without work visas or permits, or under non-immigrant visas such as tourist, visitor, student, or medical visas.

The data also reveals that women continued to constitute the majority of OFWs. In 2024, around 1.25 million, or 57.2 percent, of those working abroad were female, an increase from 1.20 million, or 55.6 percent, in 2023.

In terms of age distribution, Filipinos aged 45 years and older made up the largest share of OFWs at 25.8 percent in 2024. They were followed by those aged 30 to 34 years at 21.3 percent and those aged 35 to 39 years at 19.2 percent.

Employment data for 2024 shows that about 43.6 percent of OFWs were engaged in elementary occupations. Plant and machine operators and assemblers represented the second-largest group at 15.4 percent, followed by service and sales workers at 12.7 percent.

Asia remained the primary destination for OFWs, accounting for 74.5 percent of total departures in 2024. Europe followed with 10.6 percent, North and South America with 9.2 percent, Australia with 4.4 percent, and Africa with 1.3 percent.