• The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority reported a 4.8% increase in the Subic Freeport workforce, reaching 164,400 employees in 2024
• The manufacturing sector showed significant growth, employing 27,484 workers in 2024, up from 21,433 in 2023
• SBMA chairman Eduardo Jose Aliño attributed the workforce growth to increased manufacturing orders and the government’s push for foreign investments
• The services sector was the largest contributor to employment, with 116,776 workers in 2024, marking an increase of 1,134 workers from 2023
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reported a 4.8% increase in the Subic Freeport workforce, reaching 164,400 employees in 2024, compared to 156,811 in 2023.
The manufacturing sector led the increase, employing 27,484 workers across 110 companies in 2024, up from 21,433 workers in 2023. Workers in this sector primarily come from Olongapo City (13,738), Zambales (8,154), Bataan (3,843), and other regions.
SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño in a statement attributed this growth to rising manufacturing orders and the Marcos administration’s push for foreign direct investments to create jobs.
The services sector continued to dominate employment figures, with 116,776 workers employed by 4,014 companies, an increase of 1,134 workers from 2023. Workers in this sector are sourced from Olongapo City (46,857), Bataan (14,984), Zambales (17,999), Pampanga (4,419), National Capital Region (5,441), Tarlac (1,727), and other areas (25,349).
Shipbuilding and marine-related services also saw growth, employing 6,187 workers in 2024, up by 309 from 2023. This sector employed primarily male workers, with 5,512 men and 675 women. It employed workers from Olongapo City (2,742), Bataan (693), Zambales (1,543), Pampanga (59), National Capital Region (347), Tarlac (11), and other areas (792).
The construction sector, another male-dominated industry, employed 13,953 workers across 320 companies in 2024, an increase of 95 workers from the previous year. These firms employed 13,357 male workers and 596 female workers coming from Olongapo City (4,749), Bataan (1,747), Zambales (2,214), Pampanga (603), National Capital Region (916), Tarlac (296), and other areas (3,428).
Aliño highlighted that the steady workforce growth demonstrates resilience in the Subic Freeport against fluctuations in the national unemployment rate “since the steady increase is a good sign of a constant upward pace in the employment sector.”
“And we are anticipating more employment opportunities in Subic Freeport because of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s aggressive efforts to bring more foreign companies to invest in the country since it has been his administration’s thrust to create more jobs for Filipinos through foreign direct investments,” Aliño said.
