The Philippines is a country noted for its high migrant worker population. By most
estimates, about 1 out of every 50 Filipinos is currently working abroad, with many more
having experienced working abroad at some point in their lives.
This does not even give close to a complete picture, though as many more Filipinos
leave their small home towns and cities to work in major Philippine urban centers such
as Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Iloilo, and Bacolod.
The internal migration pattern is repeated across most Philippine regions simply
because bigger cities have more jobs, and more of those jobs pay a higher salary. The
common wisdom for generations has always seemed to have been that to be a
professional success, you’ll have to go outside your hometown to find a career.
That isn’t true anymore. By just checking any Philippine job search website, like
mynimo.com, you’ll find that jobs and salaries are now increasing even in small towns.
You might even find that there are now more opportunities within your very own
neighborhood, compared to just 10 years ago.
But is that a compelling reason to build a career at home? Let’s examine a few pros and
cons:
1. The provincial and urban salary gaps are smaller today
The online economy and platforms like Mynimo have done much to reduce the effect of
the dreaded provincial rate. Because of the high salaries offered by many online
businesses, even local employers have had to readjust their salary offers.
2. Lower cost of living
Living in the provinces is generally cheaper than it is in major urban centers like Metro
Manila and Metro Cebu. This may make it easier to be financially liquid or to save more
for things you find important.
3. Better access to family
Many Filipinos value family above everything else. And if this sounds like you, then
being able to work in your hometown right where they can be more valuable than any
high salary a company located in a big city might be able to offer you.
Cons of building a career in your small hometown
1. Salaries are still lower compared to major urban centers
While the provincial-city salary gap has decreased, it still exists. If you’re planning on
saving a large amount of money very quickly or if you want to be able to enjoy the finer
(more expensive) things in life as soon as possible, you’re sure to find more
opportunities in a bigger city. Watch out for your expenses, though.
2. Less access to movers and shakers
Unless they own farms, important industry leaders tend to be located in larger cities
most of the time, as do the people they rely on to get things done. Being able to talk
face-to-face to these VIPs can be critical in fields such as sales. You won’t be able to do
much of that in a small town — even with today’s technology. You will also find that
you’re able to build wider, better-quality networks in major cities than you would be back
home, which may be important for any number of ventures in the future.
3. Might be too restricting for the ambitious
It’s fine to be content, and it’s fine to want more. If you’re the latter, then staying in a
small town may give you fewer opportunities to build the career — or empire — that you
desire.
Wherever you plan to build your career, be sure to use Mynimo.com for Philippines
jobs, features, and more. Mynimo’s powerful localization features will help you find the
best jobs in your home town, in the big city, or wherever else in the Philippines.
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