Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The workforce in the Subic Bay Freeport reached 171,653 workers in 2025, marking a 4.4 percent increase from the 164,400 recorded in 2024, according to the annual report of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Data from the SBMA Labor Department showed continued employment growth in the Freeport, reflecting the steady expansion of businesses operating in the area.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the increase in employment supports the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to create more job opportunities for Filipinos.

Olongapo City remains the primary source of manpower for the Freeport, with 70,769 residents employed in various companies. This is followed by Zambales with 31,621 workers, Bataan with 22,897, National Capital Region with 7,077, Pampanga with 5,492, and Tarlac with 2,199. The remaining 31,598 workers come from other parts of the country, including foreign nationals.

Of the total workforce, 121,187 or 70.60 percent are male, while 50,466 or 29.40 percent are female, employed across 4,744 companies operating in the Freeport.

Despite the overall gender gap, the manufacturing sector recorded more female employees than males, with 18,951 female workers compared to 18,242 male workers across 111 manufacturing firms in Subic.

The services sector remains the largest employer in the Freeport, accounting for 67.32 percent of the workforce, followed by the manufacturing sector with 21.67 percent, construction with 7.36 percent, and shipbuilding and marine-related services with 3.64 percent.

Aliño also noted that the services sector hosts the largest number of companies, with 4,129 firms, followed by 356 construction companies, 148 shipbuilding and marine-related service firms, and 111 manufacturing companies.

He added that more job opportunities are expected as companies continue to hire through the SBMA Labor Department’s job fairs and online job postings. “Jobseekers can visit the SBMA Career Portal where we provide an official list of vacancies from various Freeport locators. Applicants may also check the bulletin boards at the SBMA Labor Department office near the Subic Bay Gym for scheduled examinations and interviews,” Aliño said.