The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) expects at least a 50 percent jump in employment generation in ecozones this year and meet its goal of creating 60,000 new jobs.
As of September, projects approved in PEZA are expected to generate 35,871 jobs.
Tereso Panga, director-general of PEZA, made the projection based on registrations of information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) and manufacturing industries in the agency.
In 2023, projected jobs in the IT-BPM and manufacturing sectors totaled 40,527.
“We hope to achieve a minimum 50 percent increase in projected jobs to meet our minimum target of 60,000 new jobs for 2024,” Panga said in a text message.
IT-BPM accounts for 60 percent created jobs.
Panga said projected employment in the IT-PM increased threefold to 16,556 in the first three quarters of the year.
“Our estimate is even conservative, considering IBPAP’s (Information Technology Business Process Association of the Philippines) target of 120,000 new jobs for the entire IT-BPM sector,” he said.
PEZA approved P179 billion investments in January to September which will generate $2.5 billion in exports.
