The Philippines is set to remain a frontrunner in Southeast Asia’s evolving job market in 2025, with nearly half of its employers (46 percent) planning to hire more contract or temporary workers in the first half of the year.
This trend mirrors a regional shift, as 37 percent of companies across Southeast Asia are also opting for more flexible employment models.
According to Jobstreet by SEEK’s “Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025,” the fact that 46 percent of Philippine companies intend to increase non-permanent hires highlights the country’s growing reliance on an adaptable workforce.
Dannah Majarocon, Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines managing director, attributed this shift to business expansion, evolving skill demands and a preference for workforce flexibility.
The report, which surveyed over 7,000 hiring managers and HR professionals across Southeast Asia in September and October 2024, identified the Philippines as the most active job market in the region last year. The country recorded an employment activity level of 83 percent, surpassing Indonesia (75 percent), Malaysia (74 percent), Singapore (58 percent) and Thailand (51 percent).
