JAKARTA - Boston Consulting Group said in its June report, The Filipino Abroad, that 69% of surveyed overseas Filipino workers cited higher income potential among their top three reasons for working abroad. The finding comes from a February 2026 survey of 1,337 OFWs across four host corridors: the US, the Middle East, Asia and the UK.
BCG said the next most common reasons were improved overall quality of life at 57%, support for family needs or children’s education at 41%, personal growth or independence at 31%, and lack of job opportunities in the Philippines at 30%. The report said the survey sample was split across the US at 35%, the Middle East at 22%, Asia at 22% and the UK at 21%.
The report said Asia in the survey referred specifically to Hong Kong and Singapore, and the Middle East referred to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. BCG also cautioned that the survey used a non-probability sample, so the findings should be read as directional rather than nationally representative.
One OFW quoted in the report gave the reason plainly: “Better life, high salary, better opportunities.” BCG said the income motive sits beside pressure from household needs, including tuition, medical expenses, daily support and the search for more predictable earnings abroad.
The 2026 remittance data point in the story is current. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data showed overseas Filipino cash remittances reached $11.40 billion from January to April 2026. April inflows were $2.72 billion, after $3.02 billion in January, $2.79 billion in February and $2.87 billion in March.
Asia gives the report its clearest Asia-Pacific link. BSP data showed cash remittances from Asia to the Philippines reached $4.74 billion from January to April 2026, including $834.95 million from Singapore and $309.93 million from Hong Kong. BCG’s Asia sample also focused on those two markets, rather than the full region.
The report also mentioned that nine in 10 surveyed OFWs remit at least monthly, Facebook or Messenger is used by 80% for family connection, and GCash leads as the primary Philippine mobile wallet at 56%.
The report places higher pay inside a wider household finance story, not just a labour-market story. BCG said 64% of Filipino families could not cover a PHP 10,000 hospital bill without borrowing or using an HMO.
