At the beginning of 2012, an estimated 200,000 registered nurses could not find work and an estimated 80,000 are graduating this year to join an already saturated market. Analysts point to global recession as one of the factors that have caused the lack of opportunities abroad. Visa requirements (in the US and Europe) have gotten much tougher, restricting Filipinos to job opportunities in their own country.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) states that nursing was the most popular choice for almost 10 years. CHED has increased monitoring and quality checks for nursing schools and nursing graduates. Given the changing economic climate for nursing graduates, both the government and education providers are actively trying to stem this tide of unemployed nurses, writes Kate McGeown for BBC News Manila