05/08/2025
Thousands of new jobs open for Pinoys in fulfillment of SONA commitment
DOLE JOB FAIR. Job applicants and other workers seeking other employment opportunities participate in the Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas job fair in Manila on 31 January 2025. (File photo by DOLE-IPS)
Thousands of jobs are becoming available for Filipinos in alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) commitment to provide decent work as a safeguard against poverty.
In his latest SONA, the President highlighted the steady rise in job opportunities across the country and assured continued assistance to unemployed Filipinos through targeted programs from key government agencies.
“Magpupursige ang DOLE, DTI, DSWD, kasama pati ang DOT, at mga kaugnay na ahensiya sa paghahanap ng paraan at ng mga oportunidad para sa natitirang apat na porsyento ng ating pwersang-manggagawa na hanggang ngayon ay walang trabaho,” he said.
This also builds on the President’s pronouncement in last year’s SONA, where he committed to creating more jobs through government infrastructure projects, investor-friendly policies, and efforts to attract more foreign businesses.
“A substantial number of investment pledges have already commenced operations, with many more at various stages of development. Sa bilang natin, bukod sa malaking kita para sa bansa, makakalikha ang mga ito ng mahigit 220,000 trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan,” Marcos said in his SONA last year.
Per the latest available data, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noted that 187 certified strategic investments from the P4.6 trillion portfolio of the Marcos Jr. administration are in various stages of implementation, generating employment across key sectors, including renewable energy, telecommunications, food production, and manufacturing.
Notable projects include SunAsia Energy’s floating solar power initiative on Laguna Lake, which aims to produce an additional 1,300 megawatts of clean energy while creating green jobs. In the digital infrastructure space, Pinnacle Towers—supported by global investment firm KKR—is developing 2,000 telecom towers nationwide. Google is also driving tech employment through career certificate programs and its Taiwan-Philippines-United States (TPU) subsea cable project, set for completion by end-2025.
To further boost job creation, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) approved P72.36 billion in investments from January to June 2025—an increase from the same period last year—projected to yield 32,983 direct jobs, up from 25,259 in 2024. For the full year of 2024, PEZA approved 255 projects—up from 233 in 2023—expected to generate over 72,000 new direct jobs and more than USD4.6 billion in exports.
PEZA also continues to engage over 50 active investment leads, while the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) is exploring a potential USD700 million cell power plant with Korean partners, targeting 250 megawatts of capacity and new energy jobs.
These initiatives align with the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023–2028 and the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan 2025–2034, which support the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
In the 2025 Post-SONA Discussion on Education and Workers’ Welfare and Development, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma also highlighted that employment facilitation efforts are ongoing in partnership with the private and public sectors.
These include the monthly conduct of job fairs, the strengthening of the labor market information system and the PhilJobNet online portal, and actively engaging with Public Employment Service Offices and local government units (LGUs) to expand reach and access to available opportunities.
“Sa kanilang (LGUs) matapat at maayos na pakikipag-ugnayan sa DOLE, nahihikayat natin ang mga negosyante na existing na palakasin pa o magdagdag ng puhunan, at ikalawa ay may kinalaman sa paghihikayat ng bagong investors,” the Labor Secretary said.
To prepare the workforce for these opportunities, the Labor Department is also carrying out upskilling and reskilling programs tailored to the needs of industries spurred by both local and foreign investments.
Secretary Laguesma earlier assured that the agency “will continue to craft effective and relevant employment policies, enhance workforce employability and skills, and broaden access to jobs and livelihood opportunities across the nation.”
“Our efforts will be focused and aimed at fostering a truly conducive environment for sustainable and resilient businesses nationwide, always guided by the principles of tripartism, social dialogue, and meaningful sectoral consultations,” Secretary Laguesma said.