MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Philippines has emerged as Southeast Asia’s most dynamic employment hub, boasting the highest level of job market activity in the region, according to Jobstreet by SEEK’s Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025. The report, which surveyed over 7,000 employers and HR professionals across key industries from September to October 2024, highlights the Philippines’ continued labor market resilience and growing demand for workforce flexibility.
With an 83% activity level, the Philippines outpaced its neighbors Indonesia (75%), Malaysia (74%), Singapore (58%) and Thailand (51%) in terms of hiring and workforce changes over the past year. Despite global economic challenges, the region overall has demonstrated robust employment trends, with 93% of surveyed companies successfully recruiting at least one employee in 2024.
In the Philippines, 94% of employers reported hiring activity, including:
- 87% hiring permanent full-time employees
- 49% hiring permanent part-time talent
- 44% onboarding contractual/temporary full-time employees
- 26% hiring contractual/temporary part-time staff
The country also saw a marked uptick in the hiring of contractual or temporary full time roles, an area it shares with Indonesia as a growing trend. This shift is attributed to business expansion, increased demand for workforce agility, and the need for new and specialized skills in a transforming job landscape.
Top employers actively recruiting on Jobstreet by SEEK include major names such as Procter & Gamble, Meralco, McDonald’s, Ayala Corporation and SM, indicating a healthy appetite for talent across both multinational corporations and homegrown conglomerates.
The report also notes a rise in workforce reductions, with 34% of companies across the region reporting layoffs, retrenchments or non-replacement of resigning employees in 2024. The Philippines and Indonesia again led in this trend, which analysts believe is linked to their strategic shift toward a more flexible workforce model.
However, Jobstreet by SEEK emphasizes that the impact of these reductions may have been mitigated by successful redeployment of affected talent into new roles. National statistics show that employment across these economies continues to grow, with unemployment rates steadily declining.
“As the job market continues to evolve while remaining resilient, Jobstreet by SEEK stays committed to connecting candidates with hirers and delivering valuable insights like this report that empower hiring managers and assist jobseekers in preparing for better, meaningful opportunities,” said Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK in the Philippines.
The report was conducted among over 7,000 hirers and HR professionals across different industries in the region, between September to October 2024.
