57% of Filipinos open to working or living abroad: OCTA
A majority of Filipinos are open to working or living abroad if given the chance, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa survey conducted by OCTA Research.
The survey found that 58% of adult Filipinos are willing to leave the country for opportunities overseas, while 39% said they would rather stay, and 4% remained undecided.
The willingness to migrate was strongest in Luzon (59%) and Mindanao (56%), while Metro Manila posted the highest share of respondents unwilling to move abroad at 45%. The Visayas recorded the lowest percentage of those opposed to migration at 34%.
Among those considering a move overseas, the leading motivations were better job opportunities (67%), higher salaries (61%), and an improved quality of life (58%). Political instability and security concerns ranked much lower among respondents' reasons for migrating.
Young adults aged 18 to 24 emerged as the most migration-ready demographic, with 81% expressing willingness to work or live abroad. The sentiment also cuts across socioeconomic classes, with 57% of both Class D and Class E respondents saying they would consider leaving the country.
According to OCTA, the findings highlight how migration is no longer confined to lower-income sectors but has become a mainstream goal among Filipinos. The research group noted that the challenge lies not in discouraging migration but in creating competitive jobs, wages, and career opportunities that would encourage Filipinos to remain in the country.
OCTA surveyed 1,200 registered voters from all over the Philippines in face-to-face interviews. It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
