Jobs in the financial services sector ranked highest in successful job placements in the last 12 months in the Philippines, data from an international recruitment expert showed. 

Data released by Michael Page Philippines, an international recruitment firm, said that financial services account for 30 percent of successful job placements, followed by retail with 17 percent and FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) at 13 percent. 

Michael Page Philippines shared the data during a forum it co-organized with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP). The session presented findings on hiring ease, industries leading in job generation, interview candidate success, and key hiring metrics. These results were based on analyzing thousands of job applications, candidates, and interviews hosted on the Michael Page Philippines’ proprietary database. 

The job applicant distribution showed a clear preference for the technology and telecoms sector, leading with 22 percent, indicative of its dynamic appeal and growth potential. Business services follow at 16 percent, reflecting its broad market relevance, while FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) and industrial/manufacturing sectors each attract 14 percent of applicants, highlighting their economic stability and essential nature. 

Retail, at 12 percent, also showed significant interest, likely due to its diverse job opportunities and career progression paths, the recruitment firm said.

In terms of gender, the data showed that disparities also exist in certain job disciplines. Based on data in the last 12 months, female professionals have been most placed by Michael Page Philippines in corporate roles, namely secretarial and business support (80%), marketing and agency (67%), procurement and supply chain (65%), retail (63%), and in human resources and legal positions (59%). 

But male recruits are hired more for jobs in the IT, technology, and manufacturing industry, with high-level positions still being skewed towards the male job applicants. 

“We are witnessing an exceptional period of growth and transformation in the Philippine financial services sector, which includes traditional banks and remittance businesses. This has led to a marked increase in job creation, accounting for 30% of new employment opportunities in the country,” said Albert Pérez, Regional Director & Country Head of Michael Page Philippines. 

Perez attributed this to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which has been actively promoting digitalization in the financial sector. He cited the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and the Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap 2020-2023, which aims to convert 50 percent of total retail payment transactions into digital form and expand financial inclusion to 70 percent of Filipino adults by 2023. “These initiatives indicate a significant transformation and growth in the financial services sector,” said Perez. 

“This overview not only sheds light on the most attractive industries in the Philippines but also indicates where we are observing the highest employment demand, guiding job seekers to sectors with opportunities,” explained Carla Lastimosa, Partner at Page Executive Philippines. “As for roles that are harder to fill, certain industries would require a longer employment process, which is due to external factors such as talent scarcity, work preferences, location of work and specific industries such as Technology calling for coding