A total of 60,312 foreign nationals were granted Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) in 2024 which reflected the government's effort to balance the protection of local workers with the growing demand for specialized skills, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) disclosed on Friday, Jan. 24.

DOLE Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. said the AEPs were primarily issued for highly technical roles, including cloud computing specialists, cybersecurity analysts, and network engineers, which are considered "hard-to-fill" jobs due to the scarcity of qualified local workers.

Managerial and consultancy positions were also covered, depending on employer proposals, he further explained.

To address concerns, the DOLE has enforced stricter guidelines for foreign hiring, requiring companies to undergo an economic needs test to justify the employment of foreign nationals.

Additionally, the DOLE said companies are mandated to establish an understudy training program to promote skills transfer to Filipino workers, ensuring that foreign nationals do not occupy positions that local workers are qualified to fill.

Patriwirawan emphasized that such measures align with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s directive to protect local employment while facilitating the entry of foreign expertise that supports national development.

He assured the public that DOLE remains vigilant in monitoring labor compliance, particularly in sectors such as construction and hospitality, where concerns about foreign worker dominance have been raised.