Marcos vows to boost jobs, investment through better environment for business

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said his administration aims to spur job creation and draw more investment by strengthening a “fair, transparent and enabling” business environment, as unemployment climbed toa three-month high in October.

- By Chloe Mari A. Hufana Reporter and Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Speaking at a job fair at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said improving the business climate remains central to his economic agenda.

“Be assured that this administration will continue to create a fair, transparent and enabling business environment — one that encourages both local and foreign investments, and rewards persistence with progress,” he said.

The job fair took place a day after the statistics agency reported the unemployment rate rose to 5% in October, leaving 2.54 million Filipinos jobless during a period usually boosted by holiday hiring.

Mr. Marcos cited deeper public-private cooperation as a key driver of development, pointing to work with the Private Sector Advisory Council that has led to more than 5,000 job fairs since 2023. These events have reached 1.3 million job seekers and produced at least 200,000 hired-on-the-spot placements, he said.

He also stressed the need to connect Filipinos to jobs that match their skills as industries rapidly adopt new technologies.

Thursday’s event combined job matching with digital upskilling, featuring the Asia Pacific College, National University and IBM, which showcased artificial intelligence training tools and other programs.

Mr. Marcos said upskilling is crucial for helping workers “not only adapt to the digital future but thrive in it.”