Services sector spikes Subic workforce to 170K

The services sector remains to be the dominant force here, registering astrong 67.70 percent presence among the 172,226 workers recorded as of January this year.

- HENRY EMPEÑO

According to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the Subic workforce continued to grow in the last three years with a total of 156,811 in 2023, followed by 164,400 in 2024 for a 4.8 percent increase, and a 171,653 total, or a 4.4 increase, by the end of 2025.

Additional hirings of 573 in the first two months of this year brought the February workers' total to 172,226.

A report from the SBMA Labor Department showed that as of February 2026, the services sector employs 114,883 workers across 4,125 companies operating in the freeport.

Of these, 84,599 are male.

The manufacturing sector employs the second largest number with a total of 37,823 workers, or 21.96 percent of the workforce; followed by the construction sector with 12,346, or 7.17 percent; and ship building maritime-related services sector with 7,174 workers, or 4.17 percent.