Analysis on the Factors Driving the Increase of Filipina Labor Out Migration: Regional Evidence from 1994-2021

Date

6-2025

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Economics

College

College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emmanuel Genesis T. Andal

Committee Member

Divine Krizza P. Cruz, Gideon P. Carnaje, Maria Angeles O. Catelo

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Abstract

The feminization of labor migration has emerged as a defining characteristic of the Philippine labor force, as Filipina workers increasingly contribute to the global economy through overseas employment. This study investigates the factors driving the increasing number of Filipina labor out-migrants from 1994 to 2021 using regional panel data across 17 Philippine regions. The theoretical framework integrates Human Capital Theory and the Harris-Todaro Migration Model to assess migration as both an economic investment and a response to labor market. Utilizing a fixed-effects panel regression model, the study analyzes data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The analysis identified that household expenditure, Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), income inequality (Gini coefficient), and poverty incidence are statistically significant in influencing migration trends. Higher household expenditures drive migration, while stronger regional economies (higher GRDP) and greater income inequality serve as deterrents. Poverty incidence negatively affects migration, suggesting that extreme poverty inhibits rather than motivates labor migration. Conversely, unemployment rate was found to be statistically non-significant, implying that migration decisions are shaped more by financial constraints and structural inequalities than outright joblessness. Additionally, the GDP per capita of destination countries was dropped due to multicollinearity, reinforcing that domestic economic conditions primarily drive migration. The findings can contribute to the broader discourse on labor migration by emphasizing the role of economic disparities in shaping migration flows.

Language

English

LC Subject

Employment in foreign countries, Women employees—Philippines

Location

UPLB College of Economics and Management (CEM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2025 E2 S27

Notes

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Document Type

Thesis

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