<![CDATA[Labor migration remains a persistent structural feature of the Philippine economy, driven by inadequate local wages, limited employment opportunities, and household financial pressures. This study examines the migration patterns, occupational profiles, and motivational drivers of 84 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Nueva Ecija, Philippines, using a mixed-methods design that integrates descriptive survey data with structured qualitative interviews. Grounded in Lee's Push-Pull Theory of Migration (1966), the study investigates the types of employment held by OFWs, the duration of their overseas contracts, the financial costs of migration, and the key factors shaping their decisions to work abroad. Findings reveal that Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were the most prevalent destinations, with migration concentrated within Asian and Middle Eastern labor markets. Domestic work dominated the occupational profile across successive deployments indicating limited upward occupational mobility once workers enter the care sector. The majority of respondents reported overseas stays of five years or fewer, consistent with the temporary contract structure regulated by Philippine migration policy. Over half of respondents incurred placement fees, with a portion potentially exceeding the legally regulated ceiling. Economic push factors, including wage inadequacy, unemployment, and household financial vulnerability, emerged as the primary motivators of migration, with respondents consistently framing overseas work as a necessity rather than a personal aspiration. These findings underscore the need for policy interventions targeting local employment expansion, fee regulation enforcement, and sustainable reintegration support for returning workers.]]>
