LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte saw stronger employment prospects in 2025, driven by expanding investments, skills development, and support for local enterprises that aim to keep young Ilokanos working in the province.
Job opportunities increased notably after SM Prime Holdings Inc. opened its first mall in Ilocos Norte in May, generating more than 4,000 local jobs in retail, operations, and support services. The development boosted economic activity in Laoag City, reinforcing its role as a key business hub in Northern Luzon.
Provincial government job fairs also delivered high placement rates. Of the 4,852 applicants who joined 10 job fairs organized through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), 3,761 were hired on the spot. In separate recruitment activities involving 35 companies, 122 of 372 applicants were likewise immediately employed.
PESO chief Anne Marie Lizette Atuan attributed the province’s sustained 99 percent employment rate to strong collaboration among government agencies and the private sector, as well as efforts to address job mismatch.
Ilocos Norte was recently recognized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a Kabalikat awardee at both regional and national levels for its consistent partnership in skills development and workforce readiness. Under its career development programs, the province assisted more than 20,000 junior and senior high school students from 130 schools, provided pre-employment coaching to 5,500 graduating college students, and supported 638 students and fresh graduates through youth employment initiatives.
Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said these efforts aim to encourage Ilokanos to stay and work in the province by choice. The provincial government continues to promote a business-friendly environment through streamlined processes and incentives to attract investors, professionals, and balikbayans.
“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.
Local initiatives such as “Mercato ni Nanay Ces” and producer-to-consumer trade fairs have also helped entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans expand their markets. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that Ilocos Norte’s 99 percent employment rate as of December 2024 has been sustained this year.
Beyond employment, the province is nurturing homegrown enterprises through its Incubation Center. Recently, 569 start-ups and small business owners received training on customer service, food safety, manufacturing practices, and product packaging, with support from Mariano Marcos State University and the Department of Science and Technology. A micro-financing program of up to PHP150,000 per beneficiary is helping sustain MSMEs that employ about 63 percent of the local workforce.
The opening of the Ilocandia Cultural Center has also strengthened support for local creatives. A pilot program led by the Commission on Higher Education and partner agencies is developing creative skills in performing and digital arts, aligning with the national push to grow the creative industries under the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan 2025–2034.
