The trend has been going on for some time now, with Saudi Arabia taking the lead: foreign workers are losing their jobs in several Middle Eastern countries. With global warming threatening the planet, the world is moving, gradually but inexorably, toward renewable energy. And the shift is being felt by economies that have been powered for decades by petrodollars.

As top crude oil producers see economic growth decelerate, jobs are being cut, and citizens are being given priority over foreign workers in employment. “Saudization” has put thousands of overseas Filipino workers out of jobs in Saudi Arabia. Similar trends are being seen by OFWs in other Middle Eastern states.

From January to October this year, according to Leyte Rep. Henry Ong, this has meant a drop of over $1 billion in OFW remittances from the Middle East. The figures, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, are down by 11.1 percent from OFWs in Saudi Arabia, by 18.2 percent in Kuwait, 9.6 percent in Bahrain and 11.1 percent in the United Arab Emirates. Ong took note of the drop as he stressed the importance of the remittances to economic activities in his home province.

Another lawmaker pointed out that OFW remittances from other countries are up and there is continuing demand for Filipino workers around the world. The Middle East, however, is the top destination for OFWs, and the shrinking of the labor market in the oil-producing region will have a heavy impact on Filipino workers.

The Philippines must prepare for the consequences, especially because experts have also been warning about a slowdown in business process outsourcing in the country. Displaced workers need support in skills retraining and job matching so they can quickly find new employment.

While the government finds new or expanded markets for OFWs, it must also intensify efforts to create decent jobs right here in the country and upgrade the skills of the workforce. Agribusiness and tourism can generate decent jobs in the countryside. OFWs can also be supported in becoming micro entrepreneurs.

For long-term employment security, the country must not wait for jobs to open up overseas. The jobs are best created right here. There will always be Filipinos who will want to work abroad, but this should be a matter of personal choice and not due to the lack of opportunities in their own land.