The unemployment rate in the Philippines has steadily decreased for the last several months and currently sits at around 4.2 percent. Unemployment rates are declining, but employers throughout the country are also struggling with ongoing labor shortages.
Finding employees who are a good fit for your company can be tricky, especially in such a challenging hiring environment.
The good news, though, is that this guide will help you learn how to hire employees in the Philippines. It also features a list of the best job sites for employers to post ads and connect with job seekers.
How to Hire Employees in the Philippines
Regardless of the type of company you run, you must follow some basic guidelines when figuring out how to hire employees in the Philippines.
Here are some of the most critical steps to take when trying to employ job seekers in the Philippines:
- File your official company name with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Get your treasurer’s affidavit and articles of incorporation notarized
- Obtain a taxpayer identification number (TIN)
- Create a business bank account
- Deposit your minimum share capital with the bank
- Obtain your business permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO)
- Obtain barangay clearance to certify compliance with local community regulations
- Obtain your community tax certificate (CTC)
In addition to following these basic steps to set up a business and start hiring employees, you should also ensure you abide by employment regulations in the Philippines.
The following are some of the most essential requirements for hiring employees in the Philippines:
- Contracts should include essential details like a description of the position, compensation, benefits, and termination requirements.
- The standard workweek in the Philippines is 40 hours (8-hour workdays); If your employees work overtime, they must receive 125 percent of their usual wages; If they work on a Sunday or a paid holiday, they must receive 130 percent of their regular wages.
- Legally, Filipino employees must receive at least five paid vacation days per year (most employers offer 15)
Keep this information in mind so you pay your employees correctly and avoid potential legal issues that could arise if you don’t have a clear and detailed contract.
How to Attract Talent in 2024 in the Philippines
Now that you know the basic requirements for hiring employees in the Philippines, let’s get into some specific strategies you can use to attract top talent.
If you’re getting ready to hire job seekers in the Philippines and want to find the best people to join your team, these tips can help:
1. Write Better Job Descriptions
Write job descriptions that make people want to work for you. Give them all the relevant details they need upfront so they can make informed decisions and avoid wasting time applying for jobs that aren’t good fits.
2. Post Job Ads in the Right Places
A critical part of the process of hiring employees in the Philippines is posting job ads in the right place. Use job sites that are geared toward your target audience (students, entry-level job seekers, etc.), so you can fill vacancies faster.
3. Ask for Employee Referrals
Nobody knows what it takes to succeed at your company quite like a current employee. Let your team know you’re looking to hire new talent and encourage them to refer friends or family members. You may even want to offer referral bonuses to incentivize quality recommendations.
4. Offer Competitive Compensation
With the cost of living rising across the globe, job seekers need to know they’ll earn enough while working at your company. Take note of what other businesses in your industry are paying employees and offer competitive compensation.
5. Offer Comprehensive Benefits
Another important aspect of the process of hiring employees in the Philippines is highlighting the benefits your company offers. Outline (in detail) the specific benefits you provide your employees so job seekers know what they can expect when working for you.
6. Encourage Employee Development
When you encourage ongoing employee development, you show your employees that you care about them and want them to succeed long-term. You also show job seekers that you’re invested in your employees and will provide them with an engaging and positive company culture.
7. Prioritize Company Culture
Speaking of company culture, look for other ways to make your company’s environment more appealing to job seekers. If your business is known for being a positive place to work, you’ll have an easier time attracting qualified employees and retaining them long-term.
8. Monitor Employee Engagement
Disengaged employees are unlikely to be ambassadors for your company. They won’t speak positively about it in person or online, and they will be less likely to refer talented friends and family members when you have a job opening.
Monitor employee engagement consistently. If you notice things starting to dip, strive to turn them around as quickly as possible.
9. Share Your Company’s Mission and Vision
When you’re writing a job ad or a social media post letting people know you’re hiring, be sure to include your company’s mission statement and vision. Tell job seekers what you stand for so they can find employers who share their values.
10. Offer Ongoing Employee Recognition
Job seekers are typically more interested in working for employers who offer frequent praise and recognition. These things contribute to a positive company culture and a more appealing work environment.
The Best Job Sites for Hiring Employees in the Philippines
To hire job seekers in the Philippines — and find the best fit for the vacancies at your company — make sure you’re posting job ads on the right websites.
This list features 20 of the best options to employ job seekers in the Philippines:
GrabJobs is a robust hiring platform for small businesses, enterprise-level companies, and everything in between. It provides all the tools you need to schedule interviews, track applicants, maintain candidate engagement, and more.
Subscription: Free for 14 days; pricing plans
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Jobstreet touts itself as a first choice among Filipino job seekers. It gives you access to over 14.6 million people, allowing you to reach a large audience with your job ads and fill vacancies quickly.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Kalibrr is used by over 20,000 companies worldwide — including many businesses in the Philippines. This platform gives you access to millions of job seekers and offers end-to-end recruitment solutions.
Subscription: Paid
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Indeed is a worldwide job search site. It features a simple, easy-to-use interface and helps you connect with job seekers from across the globe.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
If you’re looking for skilled professionals to join your company, Boss Job can help you connect right away. It’s used by over 30,000 companies and 2.5 million job seekers.
Subscription: Free for 7 days
Hiring Focus: Professional jobs (accountants, HR reps, sales reps, etc.)
LinkedIn is a professional networking site that lets you connect with job seekers from all over the world. It also features articles and other resources to help you refine your business and make it more enticing to potential new recruits.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Facebook isn’t just for staying in touch with friends. It also offers job search features and lets you advertise open positions at your company.
Subscription: Free
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Foundit lets you quickly post jobs online and connect with job seekers in India, the Middle East, and South East Asia. It also offers access to a robust resume database.
Subscription: Paid
Hiring Focus: Indian, Middle Eastern, and South East Asian job seekers
Even in a post-COVID world, remote work and online jobs are still very attractive options. If you’re interested in hiring remote employees, consider posting an ad on Online Jobs.
Subscription: Free & paid options; plans start at $69 per month
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
JobFinder is a simple, easy-to-use job site that lets you post ads for free and connect with all kinds of Filipino job seekers, from accountants to insurance agents.
Subscription: Free
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Jora is another simple, streamlined job site that is used by job seekers all over the world (including in the Philippines).
Subscription: Free
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Bestjobs is a popular job site that helps you attract top-tier candidates, review skills, organize applications and more.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
CareerJet is another simple, no-frills job site for employers and employees in the Philippines. When you publish vacancies on this site, you’ll receive messages about qualified candidates straight to your inbox.
Subscription: Paid
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Virtual Coworker is another excellent site for employers looking to connect with remote workers from all over the world.
Subscription: Paid
Hiring Focus: Virtual assistants, customer service reps, digital marketers, web developers, social media marketers, bookkeepers, accountants, recruitment assistants
Pinoy Jobs Online is designed to help Filipinos find remote work with curated job boards. If you need help finding remote employees, this is another excellent site to check out.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: Remote job seekers
Virtual Staff is similar to the Virtual Coworker site. It helps you connect with remote employees from all over the world.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: Remote job seekers
JobIsland is an excellent site for employers and job seekers alike. It makes it easy for you to connect with candidates, review resumes, and choose the best fit as soon as possible.
Subscription: Free
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
HireMe is a trusted and affordable job site for employers in the Philippines. It offers a streamlined, three-step process to help you create job ads almost instantly.
Subscription: Free
Hiring Focus: Full-time, part-time, freelance, and home-based job seekers
Glassdoor is a popular place for job seekers to go to read reviews of different companies. However, employers can also post job ads on this site and connect with potential employees more efficiently.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
My Future Job makes it easy for employers to post jobs in just a few steps, manage responses, and fill vacancies as quickly as possible.
Subscription: Free & paid options
Hiring Focus: All types of workers (blue collar, white collar, remote, entry-level, etc.)
Learn More About How to Hire Employees in the Philippines Today
It doesn’t matter if your company is brand new or has been around for decades. It never hurts to brush up on how to hire employees in the Philippines.
Keep the information discussed above in mind so you can quickly hire job seekers in the Philippines and attract top talent to your company.
Do you need more help understanding employment regulations in the Philippines or posting job ads efficiently?
If so, GrabJobs offers a wide range of tools and resources to streamline this process for you and your team. Check it out today for free!
