60% of Pinoys have part-time jobs – survey

MANILA, Philippines —  More Filipinos, especially of the younger generation, are taking part-time jobs in a bid to bolster their income and attain financial stability, a survey by a startup market research firm showed.

Results of a survey by Agile Data Solutions Inc. showed that 60 percent of Filipinos are involved in some form of part-time work, with younger people being the most involved.

“We see an increasing number of Filipinos, particularly the younger generation, seeking part-time employment as a means to bolster their income and attain financial stability,” Agile Data Solutions chairman and CEO Jason Gaguan said.

“This trend is further driven by the prevailing economic challenges and inflation, which reached 6.1 percent in September,” he said.

Of the respondents involved in part-time work, 84 percent said the ongoing economic downturn has led to shifts in spending behavior.

“Analyzing the average earnings of part-time workers across different regions revealed that individuals are reportedly earning as much as P10,000 per month in the leading three areas: Calabarzon (20 percent), the National Capital Region (18 percent) and Central Luzon (11 percent),” the market research firm said.

It added that about 78 percent of men and 76 percent of women with part-time jobs expressed a necessity to save their income. This trend is more noticeable among Generation Z (Gen Z) and millennials, who are reportedly shying away from buying non-essential products.

The study also found that in terms of juggling multiple part-time jobs, women are likely to have a single part-time job, while men are more inclined to have two or more part-time positions.

Meanwhile, survey results also showed a shift in values and priorities among different generations as financial independence takes precedence for 83 percent of Gen Z (18 to 25) individuals compared to just 76 percent of older generations (41 to 60).

In addition, older generations prioritize flexibility more, with 47 percent emphasizing its importance, while only 25 percent of Gen Z respondents share this sentiment.

“This illustrates a willingness among Filipinos to exchange time for financial stability in their younger years. As individuals age, their focus tends to shift towards the importance of time and achieving a better work-life balance,” Agile Data Solutions said.

It added that across both genders, there’s a strong consensus that communication skills are crucial to getting hired.

“A substantial 84 percent of women and 81 percent of men emphasize the value of these skills for part-time employment, underscoring the importance of strong interpersonal abilities, even in part-time roles,” it said.

Results of the survey also found that call center roles top the list of part-time positions that Filipino workers look for, closely followed by virtual assistant roles, service crew positions, information technology roles, and sales positions, respectively.

Moreover, work from home emerges as the top preference for working arrangements among people of all ages, which signals a growing acknowledgment of the value that remote setups bring.

“Filipinos today aren’t just adapting to the digital age – they’re truly making the most of it. With all the new technology and online platforms out there, many are finding jobs that fit their preferences and skills. It’s a testament to the adaptability and spirit of the modern Filipino workforce,” Gaguan said.

The survey was rolled out online from July to September to 1,000 Filipino participants aged 18 and above through the Hustle PH app, a data-gathering platform.