Recently, two Guam senators announced that there are 20,000 job openings available for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in the country. With this report, many Filipinos are planning to try their luck in Guam knowing that the country has offers in various industries like engineering, construction, information technology, hospitality and medical industry.
Guam is the largest among the island in the Marianas region. It is considered one of the territories owned and governed by the United States of America and one of the strong territories in terms of economy.
Living in Guam:
Guam is closest to the Philippines, about 25.5% of its people are Filipinos or who has Filipino blood. In fact, its current governor Felix Perez Camacho and lieutenant governor Michael Cruz are Filipinos. Other government officials in the territory are Filipinos as well.
Chamorros, Guam’s native people, shares almost the same culture with Filipinos primarily because we once become colonies of Spain. The values and tradition were somehow the same especially in terms of caring and respecting our elderly. Chamorros also love dancing, celebrations, arts and festivities.
Guam’s climate is almost the same in the Philippines. They both experience hot and wet seasons. There are two languages that are widely spoken in the country, the Chamorro and English.
Dollar is the currency in Guam and they get most of their income through tourism. The cost of living is lesser compared to other US territories like Puerto Rico and state like Hawaii.
Working in Guam:
The minimum wage in Guam is $5.85 per hour but it depends upon the field of work or the organization. Most of the jobs in Guam are related in tourism like working in hotels, restaurant and travel agencies.
Guam is not as strict in terms of accepting foreign workers compare to other US states and territories. The nation is open for foreign workers, in fact about 20,000 job openings were offered to Filipinos until 2010.
About half of Guam citizens are foreign retirees or foreign workers from Asia and Europe.
Guam’s future is bright especially in terms of innovation and tourism. Employment is expected to increase in Guam since a lot of foreign investors are eying the country for possible business development especially in tourism.
For those who want to work and live in Guam, application for work visa is available in US embassy.
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