The Bataan Freeport now has 36,967 workers, marking significant employment growth for the year 2024, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) said on Friday.

“This growth is driven by a rising population and the expanding number of businesses in the area, highlighting AFAB’s successful management in creating a thriving economic hub,” AFAB administrator and CEO Mohammed Hussein P. Pangandaman said.

He added that Mitsumi Phils. Inc. is ranked as the top employer, having 2,711 employees, 94.65 percent of whom were directly hired.

“This is followed by DLX Bag Philippines and Petron Corporation, which closely follow with over 2,400 employees each,” he added.

Other top employers, such as FCF Manufacturing Corporation, Perpetual Prime Manufacturing Inc., and Scout Manufacturing Industrial Inc., also contributed significantly to FAB’s workforce, collectively providing thousands of jobs.

While direct hiring remains the dominant trend, many companies still utilize staffing agencies to maintain flexibility. For instance, Scout Manufacturing employed 76.4 percent of its workforce through agencies, while Petron Corporation and Dong-In Sunbirds Corporation each hired approximately half of their employees through staffing agencies.

“The workforce within these enterprises plays a crucial role in driving AFAB’s progress, with their collective efforts powering innovation, productivity, and the continued development of the Freeport,” he said.