Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go said creating more high-quality employment opportunities for Filipinos remains the top priority of the government.
The finance secretary identified the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sector, and renewable energy as rapidly growing key sectors expected to power the country’s next wave of employment.
He noted that the BPO industry is evolving into higher-value services such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and IT-enabled services—opening more opportunities for Filipino workers.
“Creation of jobs, it’s everything we do, from the reforms we have created to attract investments, both foreign and domestic investments. It has one singular purpose, which is to provide jobs for millions of Filipinos,” Go said during a panel interview at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings 2026 on April 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Supporting this, Felipe Jaramillo, vice president for Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank, highlighted how the Philippine BPO sector has successfully transitioned from basic services to higher-value activities such as data analytics, IT support, and AI-enabled services, and that it continues to demonstrate growth.
“I think we all should follow the Philippines’ example in moving towards these more high-value services in East Asia Pacific,” Jaramillo said.
Beyond services, Go also cited the continued expansion of the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sector, where global firms such as Samsung are increasing investments, creating more jobs in advanced manufacturing.
At the same time, he emphasized the growing importance of clean and renewable energy as a major source of employment, with increasing investments in wind, solar, and geothermal projects that leverage the country’s natural strengths.
“Our weakness is our strength. We get hit by a lot of typhoons so we need to harness wind power. We get a lot of sun, we need to harness solar power. And third, we’re also a volcanic country, we need to find ways to keep harnessing geothermal energy,” Go added.
On labor market dynamics, Paolo Mauro, director of the Economic and Market Research Department at IFC, noted that job creation depends on both the supply of workers and the demand from firms, highlighting the Philippines’ fast-growing working-age population as both an opportunity and a challenge.
He emphasized that firms are central to job creation through innovation and investment, while skills development, infrastructure, finance, labor matching, and a stable regulatory environment all play critical roles in supporting employment growth.
To support sustained job creation, Go said the government is focused on ensuring a stable and predictable business environment through key reforms such as the CREATE MORE Act and the Public-Private Partnership Code, which provide long-term incentives and strengthen investor confidence.
He added that the government is also investing heavily in education and skills training to ensure that Filipinos are equipped to meet the demands of emerging industries.
“So, we’re trying to combine both a macroeconomic approach and very industry-specific programs to ensure that growth translates into real job opportunities for Filipinos,” Go said.