Under pressure: Filipino migrant women navigating life and work in Croatia

Croatia has recently transformed from a country of emigration to a country of immigration, increasingly dependent on the labor force of migrants from South and Southeast Asia. Among these workers, Filipino women represent a large but understudied group. This study examines the sociodemographic characteristics, context of gratitude and subjective experience of migrant life among Filipino migrant women in Croatia. Using survey data, findings indicate high levels of education, strong labor market participation, limited language proficiency, and predominantly long-term settlement intentions. While a minority expressed high satisfaction with migrant life, the majority expressed neutral or ambivalent assessments. The findings are discussed in light of research on migration stress and quality of life, highlighting gender and structural challenges that affect the well-being of migrant women. The research and publications was supported by an MSCA-SE scheme within the HORIZON Program (grant acronym: PRELAB, GA: 101129940) by the European Union / European Commission. More on: http://aemi.hl1181.dinaserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Journal_final-version.pdf