In a report released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), majority of the Filipinos going overseas to work are young, but the trend of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are getting older are slightly growing.

The NSCB report entitled, "The Pinoy Diaspora: Where do our OFWs come from and where do they go?", OFWs who are between the ages of 25-29 comprised about a fourth of the total number of OFWs. However, the data shows that for the last three years, there is an increase in the number of old OFWs. The OFWs in the 30 to 34 age bracket increased by 21 percent in 2008 to 21.7 percent in 2009, and 22.88 percent in 2010.

The data from the Survey on Overseas Filipino Workers of the National Statistics Office shows that in general, the average age of OFWs remains to be 34.4 years wherein most male OFWs are shown to be older at 36.

The NSCB figures are dominated by the young OFWs. The data for a three-year period shows that OFWs in the the 25 to 29 age bracket make up 25.7 percent of OFWs in 2008, 24.8 percent in 2009, and 24.98 percent in 2010.

The NSCB reports show that many young Filipinos spend what is perhaps their most productive years away from their country and families.

The NSC report posed a question "When can we offer them job opportunities so that this group of young people, many of whom are almost fresh out of college, will be directly helping our economy grow rather than those of other countries?

When can we contain the social cost of the Pinoy diaspora?"

The same NSCB report also shows an increase in the number of OFWs. Though the 2008 report showed that from 2 million in 2008, the number of OFWs slightly dropped in 2009 to 1.91 million, the number increased again to 2.04 million in 2010. The number comprises about two percent of the country’s total population.

The general statistics also shows that the ratio of female to male OFWs is 10:11, meaning that for every 10 female OFWs, there are 11 men. This statistics though does not apply to OFWs in Central Mindanao (Socsargen), Cagayan Valley, ARMM, and CAR. In the said regions, there are only 3-5 male OFWs for every 10 female OFWs from 2008-2010.

The NSCB report said, "In fact, the sex ratio of OFWs for 2008 to 2010 is 100 females for every 123 males in Luzon, 100 females for every 119 males in the Visayas, and 100 females for 62 males in Mindanao. Why are there more women than men from Mindanao who leave the country for work?"

There are also more female OFWs in the younger age groups as the ratio is 6 men for every 10 women aged 15 to 24 and 9 men for every 10 women aged 25 to 29.

The NSCB notes the greater vulnerability of our female OFWs compared to the males. The report shows that female OFWs are mainly working as laborers and unskilled workers (domestic helpers), clerks, service workers, as well as shop and market sales workers.

The region that sends out the most number of OFWs is Calabarzon, followed by Central Luzon and the National Capital Region. The regions with the least number of OFWs are Caraga (northeastern Mindanao), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), and CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Region). There is also an increase in the number of OFWs from the Ilocos Region, Central Visayas, and Cagayan Valley.

The report also shows that majority of OFWs (76%) are laborers and unskilled workers, service workers, shop and market sales workers, plant and machine operators and assemblers, or are engaged in trade and related work.

The professionals, technicians and associate professionals only comprised about 10%. In terms of location, the report revealed that 79 out of a hundred OFWS work all over Asia, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); 9 work in Europe, 8 in North and South America, 2 in Australia, and 2 in Africa. The three biggest OFW destination countries are Saudi Arabia (21 out of 100), UAE (15 out of 100), and Malaysia (10 out of 100).

In terms of the "most economically active population," or those aged 20 to 39, OFWs are represented at 7 percent in 2008, 6.6 percent in 2009, and 6.9 percent in 2010, the NSCB said.

OFWs aged 45 and above made up 16.4 percent of OFWs in 2008, 16.2 percent in 2009, and 16.58 in 2010.

Thirty-five to 39-year-olds had a 15.1 percent share of OFW deployment in 2008, 15.5 percent in 2009, and 15.18 percent in 2010. Those aged 40 to 44 had an 11.8 percent share in 2008, 12 percent in 2009, and 11.39 percent in 2010.

The 15 to 24 age bracket had the smallest share with 10 percent in 2008, 9.8 percent in 2009, and 8.99 percent in 2010.