25 out of 1,000 Cordillerans are overseas workers

Out of the 1.8 million household population in the region, there were 44,046 (2.5%) overseas workers 15 years old and over in 2020. Compared to the 2015 Census of Population and Housing data, there were 48,800 overseas workers 15 years old and over out of the 1.7 million household population in the Cordillera.

Figure 1. Total Household Population and Overseas Workers 15 Years Old and Over, 
CAR: 2015 and 2020

66% of overseas workers in CAR are female

From the total of 44,046 overseas workers aged 15 years and over in the region, 33.54% (14,771) were male and 66.46% (29,275) were female.

Figure 2. Overseas Workers 15 Years Old and Over in CAR by Sex, CAR: 2020

Overseas workers in provinces by age group

Out of the 44,046 overseas workers in CAR, the province of Benguet had the highest number of overseas workers with 10,985. This was followed by the City of Baguio and Abra with 9,466 and 9,446, respectively. Apayao, on the other hand, recorded 2,822 overseas workers aged 15 years and over. 

Benguet Province recorded the most number of overseas workers with workers aged 30 to 34 years comprising the bulk with 2,360 overseas, followed by aged 25 to 29 years with 2,157, and aged 45 years and over with 2,143.

City of Baguio came second highest comprising with 3,016 overseas workers aged 45 years and over, 1,589 persons aged 30 to 34 years, and 1,521 persons aged 35 to 39 years. 

The province of Abra followed next and like the City of Baguio, also recorded the highest count of overseas workers aged 45 years and over with 2,253. This was followed by aged 30 to 34 years with 1,833 and aged 35 to 39 years with 1,663 overseas workers. 

All six provinces and the Highly Urbanized City in the region had the least number of overseas workers among the age group below 20 years old.
 

Table 1. Number of Overseas Workers 15 Years Old and Over by Province/Highly Urbanized City (HUC) and Age Group, CAR: 2020

Overseas workers are mostly college graduates 

Overseas workers in CAR were mostly college graduates. They comprised 40.5% of the 44,046 overseas workers in the region. This was followed by High school graduates with 21.9% and college undergraduates with 18.2%. Undergraduates of high school and graduates of short-cycle tertiary comprised 6.1% and 5.2%, respectively. The remaining percentage were other educational levels of the overseas workers.

Figure 3. Overseas Workers by Highest Educational Attainment, CAR: 2020

Baguio has most college graduate overseas workers

The highest educational attainment of overseas workers in all provinces was graduate of college. Baguio City and Benguet posted the highest percentages of college graduates with 10.9% and 10.5% of the total 44,046 overseas workers, respectively. The province of Abra shared 7.0% of them and the remaining provinces comprised less than 5.0%.

Abra and Benguet had the concentration of high school graduate workers with a total number of 2,847 (6.5%) and 2,404 (5.5%), respectively. Also, the province of Benguet had the highest number of college undergraduate overseas workers.

Figure 3. Top 3 Overseas Workers’ Highest Educational Attainment by Province/Highly Urbanized City (HUC), CAR: 2020

(SGD)
ALDRIN FEDERICO R. BAHIT, JR.
(Chief Statistical Specialist) 
Officer-In-Charge
Special Order No: 2024ORDCAR-160

/RJPA/JMO
 

TECHNICAL NOTES

Household population encompasses persons who belong to a household or those who sleep in the usual place of residence. 

Overseas worker pertains to an individual who was out of the country due to overseas employment.

Highly Urbanized City means that the city has experienced significant growth and development with a high concentration of population and economic activity. This includes Baguio City. 

Highest educational attainment refers to the highest level of education that a person has completed or attended. This includes the old and new curriculum. It may also be a special needs education program, second-chance education program, or any of the post-secondary, short-cycle tertiary, college, and post-baccalaureate courses.

•    High School is one of the classifications for the highest educational attainment. The data for the high school level includes undergraduates and graduates.

•    Short-cycle tertiary education captures the lowest level of tertiary education and also includes advanced technical and vocational education and training (TVET). It may also be an undergraduate or graduate of such.

•    College undergraduate refers to those who graduated from high school and were accepted to college or students of universities or colleges who haven’t graduated yet.

•    College graduate pertains to those who completed four-year or more institution-accredited courses.