The Philippines recorded both the highest hiring activity and the highest workforce reductions in Southeast Asia over the past year, reflecting a fast-moving and flexible job market, according to Jobstreet by SEEK’s Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025.
The Jobstreet report showed that 94% of employers in the Philippines hired workers in 2024, topping the region. At the same time, more companies in the country also reduced their workforce compared to their peers in Southeast Asia.
Activity levels, which measure the proportion of companies hiring and reducing staff, reached 83% in the Philippines, ahead of Indonesia at 75%, Malaysia at 74%, Singapore at 58%, and Thailand at 51%.
“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 job seekers in preparing for better, meaningful opportunities,” said Dannah Majarocon, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines.
The survey, conducted from September to October 2024, polled over 7,000 hiring managers and HR professionals across the region.
In the Philippines, permanent full-time workers remained the largest group of hires, with 87% of companies onboarding them last year. But temporary and part-time employment also grew, with 49% hiring permanent part-timers, 44% hiring contractual or temporary full-time workers, and 26% bringing in contractual or temporary part-timers.
In the region, 93% of companies hired at least one employee in 2024, while 34% reported reducing staff through layoffs, retrenchments, or by leaving vacated roles unfilled. The Philippines and Indonesia saw the highest workforce reductions, which Jobstreet attributed to businesses’ growing reliance on flexible work arrangements.
This trend is expected to continue, with 46% of Philippine companies planning to hire more contract or temporary employees in the first half of 2025. Across the region, 37% of employers are eyeing similar moves.
Jobstreet noted that even with workforce cuts, many affected workers may have already moved to new roles, citing government data showing steady employment growth and declining unemployment.
Top employers actively hiring on Jobstreet’s platform include Procter & Gamble, Meralco, McDonald’s, Ayala Corp., and SM.
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