This policy brief explores the aspirations of Filipino young adults in relation to parental migration, drawing on data from Waves 2 and 3 Young Adult datasets of the Child Health and Migrant Parents in Southeast Asia (CHAMPSEA) project. While the effects of parental migration on left-behind children has been the subject of many studies, its influence on the youth and life aspirations remains understudied. Findings from Wave 3 suggest that young adults from migrant and non-migrant households exhibit similar aspirations to work abroad, pursue higher education and work non-manual jobs. Ideal ages for marriage, childbearing, and sexual initiation remain consistent between migrant and non-migrant households, though there are signs of shifting social norms. However, gaps between aspirations and expectations, particularly between occupational aspirations and expectations, underscore broader issues experienced by young people in the labor market. The findings highlight the importance of understanding youth aspirations within the broader context of transnational families and migration

CHAMPSEA Wave 3 and the CHAMPSEA-Philippines Policy Briefs were supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council Research Impact Fund (R7028-21).