Iloilo City’s labor market maintained a robust performance in the third quarter of 2025, posting 31,845 job vacancies and an impressive 92.61 percent placement rate, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO-Iloilo City) reported.
From July to September, PESO’s Labor Market Analysis showed that 11,546 applicants were referred to various employers, with 10,709 successfully hired, signaling strong employment activity across the metro.
According to the Skills Registry System (SPRS), 7,816 jobseekers registered during the period, reaching a high in August with 3,531 new registrants.
Women continued to dominate the labor force, accounting for 57.51 percent (4,495) of all applicants, compared to 42.49 percent (3,321) men.
Most jobseekers were single, with the 20–24 age group leading at 3,063, followed by the 25–34 age group with 1,578.
The PESO Employment Information System also reported 5,187 applicants sourced from three job fairs, 28 local recruitment activities, and 10 special recruitment drives held across Iloilo.
In terms of qualifications, 4,394 jobseekers were college graduates, while 4,995 had no prior work experience, underscoring a young, emerging, and trainable workforce.
The most in-demand positions included customer service representatives, cashiers, service crew, and food handlers.
On the other hand, delivery riders, instructors, masons, accounting staff, and welders were among the hardest roles to fill.
Among those successfully placed, top positions filled were customer service representatives, service crew, cashiers, baggers, and production crew, while notable placements were also recorded for harder-to-fill roles such as admin aides, instructors, drivers, and accounting staff.
Beyond regular employment, the DOLE TUPAD program engaged 864 beneficiaries — 480 women and 384 men, mostly aged 35 to 44, with 472 identified as single.
PESO said the strong third-quarter performance reflects Iloilo’s steady post-pandemic recovery and its growing reputation as one of Western Visayas’ most dynamic and opportunity-rich labor markets — a province where productivity and resilience continue to define its workforce. IMT
