Overview of Hiring Activity
The Philippines’ online hiring activity remained positive in April 2026, with the foundit Insights Tracker sustaining broadly positive annual growth — though the pace moderated from March’s 16% as two large sectors pulled back sharply. Month-on-month, the index was broadly stable, with incremental gains across most industries offset by a meaningful decline in healthcare and a marginal dip in advertising.
The 6-month trend continues to strengthen, underpinned by sustained growth across logistics, financial services, advertising, and healthcare. The near-term picture is more mixed: BPO/ITES — which had returned to broadly flat territory in March after sustained structural contraction — reversed course in April, and Education extended its pullback after last month’s brief return to growth. Both point to structural pressures that remain unresolved despite the broader positive hiring environment.
10 of the 12 industries tracked by the Index recorded year-on-year growth in April 2026.
Hiring Trends by Industry (YoY change)
10 of the 12 industries tracked recorded year-on-year growth in April 2026. BPO/ITES and Education returned to negative territory after brief recoveries in March.
In demand
Logistics, Courier/Freight, Transportation & Shipping (+12%) The standout performer. E-commerce expansion and last-mile delivery demand continue to drive elevated hiring across warehousing, transport operations, and supply chain roles — sustained now across consecutive months of strong growth.
Advertising,, Market Research, PR, Media & Entertainment (+8%) Continued corporate investment in digital and performance marketing sustains demand for creative, content, and campaign roles.
Health Care (+8%) Persistent workforce shortages continue to support broad-based hiring for clinical and support roles across public and private healthcare settings.
Retail (+6%) Consumer demand and omnichannel investment support steady hiring across stores, fulfilment operations, and customer-facing roles.
BFSI (+6%) Digital banking growth, compliance requirements, and technology investment sustain consistent hiring across financial services.
Engineering, Construction & Real Estate (+5%) Ongoing infrastructure and project execution activity underpins steady demand across construction and engineering roles.
IT, Telecom/ISP (+5%) Selective investment in digital infrastructure, cloud systems, and cybersecurity keeps tech hiring meaningfully positive.
Hospitality (+5%) Steady tourism activity and growing domestic travel support elevated operational staffing across guest services and hospitality functions.
Consumer Goods/FMCG (+1%) Marginal but positive, reflecting cautious but stable expansion as consumer sentiment continues to improve gradually.
Production/Manufacturing, Automotive & Ancillary (+1%) Flat to marginal gains as firms prioritise targeted replacement and operational continuity over broad headcount expansion.
Facing challenges
BPO/ITES (−17%) A significant reversal after last month’s near-stabilisation. Ongoing automation of routine processes and the structural shift toward higher-skill roles is once again reducing overall headcount demand as companies continue to optimise team structures.
Education (−31%) The steepest industry decline. Enrolment pressure and cost rationalisation continue to drive hiring freezes and workforce reductions across institutions — the brief return to growth in March proving short-lived.
Hiring Trends by Functional Area (YoY change)
6 out of 10 functional areas recorded year-on-year growth in April 2026.
In demand
Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (+13%) The top-performing functional category, with companies continuing to expand warehousing, procurement, and distribution capacity in line with e-commerce and trade flow momentum.
Finance & Accounts (+9%) Organisations continue to strengthen financial controls, compliance, and reporting functions amid tighter cost management and growing regulatory scrutiny.
Hospitality & Travel (+8%) Steady tourism and travel activity supports operational staffing across guest services and travel functions.
Software, Hardware & Telecom (+7%) Continued investment in digital infrastructure, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology sustains consistent demand for tech talent.
Engineering/Production, Real Estate (+3%) Positive demand aligns with ongoing project execution and maintenance requirements across construction and infrastructure-linked roles.
Marketing & Communications (+2%) Marginal growth reflects stable but selective demand as spend stays performance-driven and focused on measurable outcomes.
Facing challenges
Health Care Roles (−2%) Marginal softness at the role level — despite industry-level growth in healthcare — suggesting demand is concentrated in specific sub-functions while some categories face targeted rationalisation.
HR & Admin (−10%) Organisations continue to consolidate shared services and automate routine people and administrative processes.
Customer Service (−10%) Sustained weakness as automation tools, AI-driven self-service platforms, and efficiency mandates continue to reduce the need for large support teams.
Sales & Business Development (−15%) The steepest functional decline, reflecting continued caution in expanding frontline commercial capacity as companies prioritise productivity and channel efficiency over headcount growth.
About the foundit Insights Tracker
The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) Philippines (formerly the Monster Employment Index) is a monthly benchmark of online hiring activity across the nation. By analysing millions of job postings, fit provides timely, data-led intelligence on recruitment trends across industries, occupations, and skill categories, helping organisations and talent navigate an evolving labour market.
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