Laoag: The year 2025 is a perfect year for the province of Ilocos Norte, with greener pastures cultivated for the younger Ilokano workforce. This year, more jobs have become available to residents, especially when property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. officially opened its first shopping mall in the province in May.
According to Philippines News Agency, with over 4,000 local jobs available across various sectors, including retail, operations, and support services, the province's capital city has become vibrant more than ever with a landmark business establishment expanding its market niche in this northern gateway of Luzon. Of the 10 job fairs initiated by the provincial government alone through its Public Employment Service Office this year, 3,761 out of the 4,852 applicants were hired on the spot. In local recruitment activities participated by 35 companies, the PESO reported 122 out of the 372 applicants were also hired on the spot.
PESO chief Anne Marie Lizette Atuan told the Philippine News Agency the sustained 99 percent employment rate of the province is attributed to the stronger collaboration among government agencies and between public and private institutions to provide local jobs while addressing job mismatch.
Ilocos Norte was recently recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a Kabalikat awardee, both at the regional and national levels, for demonstrating strong, consistent, and sustained collaboration with TESDA in advancing skills development, enhancing workforce readiness, and promoting employment generation. Under the career development support program of the province, a total of 9,148 junior and 11,146 senior high school students from 130 participating schools were assisted. Pre-employment coaching was also conducted for 5,500 graduating students from six participating colleges and universities in the cities of Batac and Laoag, respectively.
Youth employment initiatives-including JobStart, the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the Work Readiness Program, and government internship programs-benefited 638 students and fresh graduates, strengthening local employment across both the public and private sectors. For Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, creating a greener pasture for the Ilocanos will make them stay and work in the province by choice. As a province with one of the highest migration rates across the country, the Marcos administration has been enticing professionals and balikbayans to share their expertise and do business in the province.
Among the initiatives are creating a business-friendly environment through streamlined business transactions and the provision of both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to would-be investors. Local government units here continue to strengthen programs that generate employment and support local businesses. Through initiatives such as 'Mercato ni Nanay Ces' and the 'producer-to-consumer' trade fairs, local entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans gain valuable opportunities to market their products, promote Ilokano craftsmanship, and grow their enterprises.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that Ilocos Norte recorded an employment rate of 99 percent as of December 2024, and this has been sustained this year, reflecting the province's strong performance in implementing programs that promote sustainable and inclusive employment for the Ilokano community. 'Let us continue nurturing a province where every Ilokano can succeed. Ilocos Norte must continue to move toward meaningful and sustainable jobs and careers. We must chart a blueprint for an economy that is pro-job, competitive, and visionary, ensuring that every Ilokano has the chance to thrive and prosper,' Araneta-Marcos said, assuring the continuous implementation of programs that empower and uplift the lives of its people.
Ilocos Norte's Incubation Center has been honing business start-ups and home-grown entrepreneurs' innovativeness in the province. In the early part of this month, the Ilocos Norte government gathered 569 start-ups and small business owners at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium to strengthen local enterprises and support sustainable livelihood growth. A total of 428 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the formal sector have been prepared to enhance their operations, while 141 MSMEs from the informal sector began their transition into the formal economy.
All beneficiaries completed a capacity training program focusing on customer service, food safety, and Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), and product packaging and labeling, facilitated by experts from the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). A micro-financing program of up to PHP150,000 per beneficiary has been infused by the provincial government to sustain the growth of home-grown enterprises that employ about 63 percent of the local workforce.
The opening of the Ilocandia Cultural Center this year gave a boost to local creatives. A pilot program initiated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and partner agencies aims to develop a pathway that cultivates the creative skills essential for economic growth. The CHED's partner agencies include the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). The program focuses on harnessing the potential of creative industries, particularly the performing and digital arts, as one of the country's fastest-growing sectors, contributing 7.3 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creating 7.51 million jobs in 2024, according to the latest government data.
These have been in response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen the country's creative sector - which includes music, film, design, crafts, and digital media - when he ordered the adoption of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan (PCIDP) 2025-2034, making cultural expression as a strategic economic priority.
