PH manufacturing hits 10-month high, boosting job prospects

The country’s manufacturing sector posted its strongest expansion in 10 months in May 2025, driven by increased output in food and transport-related industries, according to official data released Monday.

Citing preliminary figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported a 4.9 percent year-on-year growth in the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing—up from 4.3 percent in April and marking the highest recorded since July 2024.

Food manufacturing led the increase with a 15.7 percent growth, up from 11.2 percent in April, followed by transport equipment, which surged 13.5 percent compared to the previous month’s 7.4 percent expansion.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the latest data reflects a “positive outlook” for the sector, noting that factory activity is a “catalyst for economic growth and job creation.”

“When factories produce more, they need to hire more workers,” Roque said in a statement.

The sector’s momentum is expected to carry into June, supported by an improvement in the S&P Global Philippines Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which rose to 50.7 last month from 50.1 in May. A PMI above 50 indicates expansion.

The Board of Investments (BOI) also reported that it approved %u20B115.02 billion worth of manufacturing-related projects in the first half of 2025. These projects are forecast to generate over 5,000 new jobs across various subsectors.

The government continues to position manufacturing as a key engine for growth, amid broader efforts to diversify industrial output and attract investments into high-value production segments.