MANILA -- More overseas employment opportunities are up for grabs for Filipino professionals as the United Kingdom gears up in recruiting interested applicants in the financial sector, the labor department reported.

London Labor Attaché Amuerfina Reyes said that apart from higher demand in health care services, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) also observed a growing market for workers in the financial sector, specifically for positions such as accountants, comptrollers, auditors, and also some jobs in the agriculture sector, as seasonal workers.

“Based on the job orders that we have been receiving, there are emerging opportunities for our overseas Filipino workers here in the financial sector. We can see an increase in the demand for accountants and auditors. Another opportunity is up for those seasonal agriculture workers in the potato farms,” Reyes said.

The UK POLO chief added that in light of the urgent need and high-demand for nurses in the UK, the labor office has been getting more job orders and contracts for senior health care workers due to the spread of COVID-19 cases in various European countries.

Based on the data from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council, Reyes said there are about 13,000 Filipinos employed in the health care sector, the big portion of which is the nurses.

“Here in UK, there is a big demand for nurses and healthcare-related jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they saw the need for this. They prefer to hire Filipino workers first not only for our good work ethics but because we work passionately from the heart,” she said.

Reyes also said the UK needs about 50,000 nurses until the year 2024.

“Based on the information that we have, there is a big demand for nurses in the UK, their requirement is up to 50,000 nurses up to 2024 and they truly prioritize Filipinos. Remember they have been negotiating with us in raising or exempting them from the deployment cap, but of course, we have to take into consideration our own needs in the Philippines as well,” Reyes said.

She said Filipino workers in the UK are generally in good working environment. Upon their arrival in the UK, Pinoy nurses are already being scheduled for vaccination following the end of their quarantine period.

“Upon their arrival here in the UK, nurses are getting £19 to £20,000 per year. If they pass the exam, just like the one PRC administers in the Philippines, they will receive £23,000 to £24,000 per year.  They are getting more from overtime pay, on top of their opportunity of becoming permanent residents after 5 years, if their track records are clean,” the POLO official added.  (DOLE)