About 46 percent of MSMEs are experiencing a talent crisis while 72 percent intend to expand their workforce, according to a recent survey by Boston Consulting Group and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Jobstreet by SEEK is seeking to narrow that gap by bringing recruitment expertise, digital hiring tools and other business resources closer to Filipino entrepreneurs, particularly those with limited resources to find and recruit workers.
Hiring support
Under its “Building Better Teams. Growing Businesses” initiative, Jobstreet has been conducting business talks, summits and capacity-building activities with local government units, business organizations and MSME communities.
In a statement, the employment platform said the activities are designed to help entrepreneurs navigate recruitment challenges and build teams that can support long-term business growth.
In Pasig and Quezon City, Jobstreet held BizTalk sessions in partnership with the Pasig City Local Economic Development and Investment Office and the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office.
The sessions covered recruitment, digital tools, entrepreneurship and government support programs available to small businesses.
Pasig participants were introduced to free Jobstreet Lite job ads and artificial intelligence-assisted job ad creation, which are intended to make recruitment more accessible to businesses with limited hiring resources.
In Quezon City, employers were introduced to digital recruitment tools and entrepreneurial resources while exploring how collaboration within the local business community could help address workforce requirements.
Beyond recruitment
Jobstreet is also connecting entrepreneurs with expertise beyond hiring as MSMEs confront challenges ranging from financing and regulatory compliance to digital transformation.
Through Jobstreet Negosyo Forward: READY, SET, GROW, organized with PH Business Network, entrepreneurs received one-on-one consultations with business advisers and industry experts.
The business clinic covered finance, workforce management, labor compliance, banking, intellectual property, digital transformation and business registration — areas that can become increasingly complex as small enterprises expand.
Jobstreet also participated in Quezon City MSME Week 2026 at Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City and the Go Negosyo MSME Summit at SM Mall of Asia, where entrepreneurs were introduced to recruitment solutions, free hiring tools and employer resources.
Growth challenge
The initiatives reflect the growing importance of workforce planning for MSMEs, which often have fewer resources and less recruitment expertise than larger companies even as they compete for talent.
For small businesses, hiring the right employees can influence not only day-to-day operations but also their ability to expand, serve more customers and sustain growth.
“We believe that growing a business starts with having the right people behind it. Through our partnerships and engagements with MSMEs, we hope to make hiring more accessible and empower more Filipino businesses to grow with confidence, supported by the right talent,” said Jobstreet by SEEK managing director Dannah Majarocon.
Jobstreet said it plans to continue supporting MSMEs as they expand their businesses and generate employment, with a focus on making recruitment tools and resources more accessible to entrepreneurs. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
