AI skills now key in hiring, says Jobstreet report

With the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence in recent years, 72% of businesses in the Philippines now consider AI knowledge in candidates when hiring talent, according to Jobstreet by SEEK’s Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025.

Of these, 36% consider AI knowledge as crucial in hiring, considering it either a primary consideration or as important as other qualifications. These businesses primarily assess AI knowledge by asking technical questions, reviewing projects or work samples in the candidate’s portfolio.

Similarly, some companies shared that they have been adopting AI tools to assist with recruitment and find the most suitable candidates through automated screening and assessment.

Conducted by the leading online job portal late last year, the survey was participated in by more than 2,000 hiring respondents in the country, across varying business sizes and sectors.

“Through this signature report, we delved into the outlook of the hiring market, compensation and benefits provided by hirers, with a focus on AI and workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We aim to guide our hirers and talent to stay ahead of these changes to better thrive in their business and careers,” said Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK in the Philippines.

When it comes to compensation, the report revealed that 78% of businesses provided salary increases, mostly within the 1-5% range. Notably, small businesses have made significant strides in benefits benchmarking and developing or revising pay structures, narrowing the gap with medium and large businesses.

The majority of companies shared that they provided bonuses in various forms to retain or attract talent, with 53% awarding performance bonuses. The size of the average bonus payout increased to approximately 4 months’ salary, higher than in the previous year. Additionally, hirers have been including medical insurance, health checks, and mental health support as their employee benefits.

Jobstreet by SEEK, in a previous statement, revealed that the Philippines is leading Southeast Asia in adopting workplace DEI, with 63% of Filipino companies having DEI initiatives in place.

To access the full Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025, click HERE (https://ph.employer.seek.com/page/hiring-compensation-benefits-report-2025#ReportForm).

To learn more about career opportunities, visit jobstreet.com.ph.