Tag:

survey

Filipinos generate 20% more AI-related searches per person than Americans, data shows

by Contributor July 10, 2026

written by Contributor

FILIPINOS generate more AI-related searches per person than Americans, according to Google search data.

A new analysis from KalonAI, based on Google search data, found that the Philippines records approximately 61,450 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, compared to 51,220 in the United States, a difference of approximately 20%. On a per-person basis, Filipinos average approximately 0.61 AI-related searches per month, compared to 0.51 among Americans.

Cebu City Leads the Philippines in AI Search Activity. At the city level, Cebu City ranks first nationwide, recording approximately 271,400 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, 136% above the national average.

Angeles City follows closely behind with roughly 259,000 searches per 100,000 people (126% above average), while Makati City, Baguio City, and Iloilo City complete the top five.

Top 10 Cities for AI-Related Searches in the Philippines

Cebu City
Angeles City
Makati City
Baguio City
Iloilo City
Cagayan de Oro City
Davao City
Quezon City
Manila City
Pasig City

The rankings show that high levels of AI-related search activity are not limited to Metro Manila. Several regional cities, including Baguio, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro, rank well above the national average on a per-capita basis.

Metro Manila Shows Broad AI Search Activity

Several Metro Manila cities rank above the national average, including Makati, Quezon City, Manila, and Pasig.

However, no single National Capital Region (NCR) city records AI-related search activity at the same level as Cebu City or Angeles City.

AI-related searches within Metro Manila are distributed across multiple cities rather than concentrated in a single urban center.

Cities With Lower AI Search Activity

Several cities recorded substantially lower levels of AI-related search activity compared to the national average:

Zamboanga City
Marikina City
Caloocan City
Valenzuela City
Malabon City

Zamboanga City ranks lowest overall with approximately 44,100 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, 62% below the national average. Marikina City follows at 45% below average, while Caloocan City records search activity 45% below average.

Regional Rankings Show Strong Search Activity in NCR and Central Visayas

At the regional level, the National Capital Region (NCR) ranks first for AI-related search activity, recording approximately 96,070 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, 78% above the national average.

Central Visayas follows with roughly 90,410 searches per 100,000 people (67% above average), while CALABARZON, the Davao Region, and Central Luzon complete the top five.

Top 10 Regions for AI-Related Searches in the Philippines

NCR
Central Visayas
CALABARZON
Davao Region
Central Luzon
Western Visayas
CAR
Northern Mindanao
Ilocos Region
Cagayan Valley

At the opposite end of the rankings, BARMM records approximately 12,740 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, 76% below the national average.

SOCCSKSARGEN follows at 48% below average, while the Zamboanga Peninsula ranks third lowest at 41% below average.

The results show substantial differences in AI-related search activity across regions of the Philippines.

“What stands out is the breadth of AI-related search activity across the Philippines,” said a spokesperson for KalonAI. “The data shows strong search activity not only in major business centers, but also in regional cities and regions across the country.”

Methodology

This analysis is based on Google Keyword Planner data covering average monthly search volumes between June 2025 and May 2026.

AI-related search queries were analyzed for both the Philippines and the United States and adjusted for population to calculate per-capita search rates.

Over the analyzed period, the Philippines recorded approximately 61,450 monthly AI-related searches per 100,000 people, compared to 51,220 in the United States.

Within the Philippines, search data was analyzed at both the regional and city level. Volumes were aggregated across AI-related search terms and normalized by population to enable direct per-capita comparisons.

All regions and cities were ranked based on per-capita search activity rather than total search volume.

Navotas City and Puerto Princesa City were excluded due to insufficient location-level data.

Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash

July 10, 2026 0 comments

Business

Mastercard and CrescentRating reports point to 245 million Muslim travelers by 2030, with women driving nearly half of arrivals

by Contributor May 19, 2026

written by Contributor

MASTERCARD, in collaboration with CrescentRating, today released two new reports: Halal Travel Trends 2026 and Muslim Women in Travel 2026, examining how Muslim travel is evolving amid rising demand for more inclusive, trusted and purpose-led experiences.

Muslim travel is becoming an increasingly significant growth opportunity. Halal Travel Trends 2026 revealed that international Muslim visitor arrivals are estimated at 186 million in 2025 and projected to reach 245 million by 2030.

Meanwhile, Muslim Women in Travel 2026 finds that Muslim women travelers accounted for 90 million international arrivals in 2025, representing 48% of global Muslim visitor arrivals, up from 63 million and 45% in 2019.

Additionally, baseline services for Muslim-friendly tourism – Halal food and prayer spaces – have stepped up in recent years, identifying experiences such as safety, digital confidence, and faith-aligned assurance as part of the new norm.

At the center of both reports is CrescentRating’s RIDA framework (Responsible, Immersive, Digital and Assured) which provides a practical roadmap for destinations, tourism boards and businesses to better serve Muslim travelers.

Asia and ASEAN at the heart of Muslim travel growth

Asia remains central to the global Muslim travel landscape. Halal Travel Trends 2026 finds that the region drew nearly 120 million Muslim visitors in 2024, representing 65% of the world’s 176 million global Muslim visitors.

The report attributes Asia’s strength to connectivity, cultural depth, established Halal infrastructure and proximity between major Muslim source and destination markets.

ASEAN is particularly well positioned to capture this demand. Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei feature among the preferred destinations for Muslim women travelers, while Southeast Asia accounts for 5.8 million Muslim women travelers as a source region.

The region’s established Halal ecosystems, family-friendly travel options, regional connectivity and growing investment in inclusive tourism give it a strong foundation to serve this fast-evolving market.

Beyond Muslim-majority destinations, the reports also point to growing opportunities for destinations that can make Muslim-friendly readiness more visible and reliable — helping destinations convert interest into bookings while strengthening traveler confidence.

Muslim Women travelers shape the future of inclusive tourism

Muslim Women in Travel 2026 spotlights one of the most influential segments within the broader Muslim travel market.

Muslim women are increasingly shaping where, how and why trips are planned — whether for family holidays, solo travel, religious journeys, business trips or women-led group experiences.

The report finds that safety and trust are key priorities. General safety and comfort are the most important destination factors for 60% of Muslim women travelers, followed by Muslim-friendliness at 30%.

Travelers want to feel confident accessing Halal food, finding prayer spaces, dressing modestly, moving through destinations safely and practicing their faith without discrimination or judgement.Digital discovery is also playing a defining role.

The report finds that 68% of respondents said social media influenced their travel decisions, with Instagram as the most used platform, followed by YouTube and TikTok.

AI tools are also emerging as a new layer of travel assurance, helping travelers research destinations, compare options, plan itineraries, identify Halal dining, locate prayer spaces and assess safety considerations.

“Muslim travel is entering a more sophisticated phase, where confidence, inclusion and purpose are becoming as important as access and convenience,” said Aisha Islam, senior vice president, Customer Solutions Center, Southeast Asia at Mastercard. “Through the RIDA framework, destinations and businesses have a practical way to think about the full traveler journey from trusted digital information and secure payments to meaningful experiences that respect faith, culture, safety and personal values.”

From availability to assurance

Both reports point to a clear industry opportunity: Destinations that make Muslim-friendly services more visible, verifiable and consistent will be better positioned to convert interest into visits and build long-term loyalty.

The RIDA framework provides a practical way for destinations to respond:Responsible: support community-led tourism, environmental stewardship and regenerative travel practices. Immersive: create deeper cultural, heritage and local experiences that go beyond sightseeing.

Digital: use technology, AI and secure digital payments to reduce friction and increase confidence.

Assured: build trust through verified Halal services, safety standards, inclusive infrastructure and consistent quality across touchpoints.

“For destinations, the opportunity is to move from availability to assurance,” said Raudha Zaini, director of operations, CrescentRating. “Muslim travelers are looking for experiences that are meaningful, inclusive and easy to trust. The destinations that clearly communicate their readiness and deliver consistently across the journey will be best positioned to earn long-term loyalty.”

As Muslim travel continues to grow across regions and traveler segments, the reports highlight the need for a more integrated approach to tourism development.

By embedding responsible practices, authentic experiences, digital confidence and trusted faith-aligned services into destination planning, the travel industry can unlock stronger participation, deeper loyalty and more resilient growth.

May 19, 2026 0 comments

Business

The Philippines ranks 2nd in workplace happiness, Jobstreet by SEEK reports

by Contributor May 18, 2026

written by Contributor

FILIPINO employees are reportedly the second-happiest at work, next to Indonesia in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the latest Workplace Happiness Index: Philippines 2025 by Jobstreet by SEEK.

Leading online career platform Jobstreet by SEEK conducted a region-wide survey from October to November 2025, with over 10,500 employed individuals across the Asia-Pacific, of whom 1,000 were Filipino workers aged 18 to 64 nationwide.

The report highlights workers’ evolving preference for the importance of work purpose, personal wellbeing, and career growth alongside salary and flexibility.

The report shows 77% of Filipino workers said they are somewhat or extremely happy at work, placing the Philippines among the happiest workforces in the region, following Indonesia at 82%. This happiness is largely driven by a strong sense of purpose, with employees valuing meaningful work and alignment with company goals more than monetary compensation alone.

In terms of happiness at work by region, respondents in Visayas were found to be the happiest (82%), followed by NCR (77%), while Luzon and Mindanao tied last (76%). Interestingly, happiness at work is similar across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, suggesting that workers in the Philippines are broadly united in their sentiment towards workplace happiness.

Drivers of happiness at work

Jobstreet by SEEK’s latest findings highlighted that Filipino workers are now looking beyond compensation and hybrid work setups.

Employees increasingly associate their workplace happiness with their sense of purpose, learning and development opportunities, and day-to-day responsibilities.

The latest report found that 77% of respondents feel valued at work, while 74% described their jobs as fulfilling, revealing widespread positivity and satisfaction within the workplace.

While salary remained the top factor to attract and retain employees, purpose at work—how their work contributes to the overall company and personal goals—has a stronger impact on overall engagement and personal satisfaction, the report reveals.

Career progression also emerged as a major factor influencing retention, with 55% of respondents saying they think about changing careers somewhat or extremely often. Employees dissatisfied with career progression opportunities were significantly more likely to consider leaving their jobs, which is a key factor in considering clear development pathways among hirers.

Silent struggles among Filipino workers

Despite broad happiness levels, Jobstreet by SEEK reports that stress and burnout are having an impact on workers. Only two in five (41%) report being in control of their stress levels, while 38% said they are burnt out or extremely exhausted with their jobs.

Meanwhile, concerns surrounding artificial intelligence continue to emerge across industries, with 41% of workers expressing concern about AI’s potential impact on their jobs. Although job security is not heavily emphasized in driving happiness, these are potential challenges that companies may want to watch for as workplaces advance.

“The report only shows how employee preferences are evolving and how their work environment shapes their overall happiness and sense of purpose. Jobstreet by SEEK, through this study, seeks to empower hirers in navigating these shifts and creating workplaces that foster talent engagement and long-term growth,” shared Dannah Majarocon, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK in the Philippines.

Overall, workers who feel happy in their roles are nearly twice as likely to feel motivated to go above and beyond for their employer. This reveals that when businesses put employee happiness at the heart of their culture, they’re rewarded with greater engagement, productivity, and retention.

May 18, 2026 0 comments

Education News

De La Salle University has the highest starting salary among universities in the Philippines, study finds

by Contributor April 2, 2026

written by Contributor

SINGAPORE — March 31, 2026 — A new study by Briefcase Index has named De La Salle University as the university with the highest starting salary in the Philippines, with a reported median monthly starting pay of ₱35,000 between 2020 and 2025.

The B2B discovery and rankings platform analyzed crowdsourced salary data from the Liyab First Pay Survey, conducted by career development startup Liyab, to identify which universities were associated with the strongest early-career pay outcomes for graduates.

De La Salle University ranked first with a median monthly starting salary of ₱35,000. Ateneo de Manila University placed second at ₱32,000, while University of the Philippines Diliman rounded out the top three with ₱30,000.

At the other end of the ranking, University of the Philippines Visayas recorded the lowest median monthly starting salary, at ₱20,000.

The study highlighted a notable gap between the top and bottom of the ranking, with De La Salle University’s median monthly starting salary standing ₱15,000 above that of the University of the Philippines Visayas.

10 Highest Starting Salary Universities in the Philippines

Rank	University	Median Monthly Starting Salary (2020 – 2025)
#1	De La Salle University	₱35,000
#2	Ateneo de Manila University	₱32,000
#3	University of the Philippines Diliman	₱30,000
#4	University of the Philippines Los Baños	₱25,500
#5	University of Santo Tomas	₱23,000
#6	Saint Louis University	₱22,500
#7	Polytechnic University of the Philippines	₱21,750
#8	Mapúa University	₱20,900
#9	De La Salle Lipa	₱20,500
#10	University of the Philippines Visayas	₱20,000

Source: “Liyab First Pay Survey (Responses).” Liyab. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gnA91Tjr_3UCNV8x1_LoE0oC56r-pXXRdJcgTfOLlm0/.

“This ranking offers a clearer picture of how graduates from different universities are entering the workforce in the Philippines,” said a Briefcase Index spokesperson. “For students and families, it adds perspective on early-career earning potential, while for employers it serves as a useful reference for hiring strategy, salary positioning, and campus outreach.”

The findings provide a useful point of comparison with a 2023 report by Human Resources Online, which noted that university students in the Philippines expected an average annual salary of PHP 495,966. That figure is above the median starting salaries reported across all universities in this ranking.

Overall, the study offers a practical overview of graduate earning trends in the Philippines, with relevance for both education choices and workforce planning.

April 2, 2026 0 comments

Business

Philippines emerges as Southeast Asia’s most active job market, Jobstreet by SEEK reports

by Contributor July 15, 2025

written by Contributor

THE PHILIPPINES has emerged as the most active job market among Southeast Asian countries, having the highest number of employers hiring jobseekers and reducing employees in the past year, according to Jobstreet by SEEK’s latest survey, Hiring, Compensation & Benefits Report 2025.

The Philippines recorded an 83% activity level, followed by Indonesia at 75%, Malaysia at 74%, Singapore at 58%, and Thailand at 51%. Despite economic challenges and uncertainties, the leading online job portal reported that Southeast Asia has demonstrated a resilient job market with consistent employment growth.

Hiring activity

Jobstreet by SEEK shared that 93% of companies in the region were able to successfully recruit at least one employee in 2024.

In the Philippines, the report showed that 94% of employers had hired candidates, with 87% employing permanent full-time employees, 49% bringing in permanent part-time candidates, 44% hiring contractual/temporary full-time employees, and 26% onboarding contractual/temporary part-time employees.

Notably, the Philippines and Indonesia saw significant growth when it comes to the hiring of contractual/temporary full-time employees. This trend, according to Jobstreet by SEEK, can be attributed to business expansion, increasing preference for a temporary workforce and workforce flexibility, and demand for new skill sets.

Currently, a few of the top companies that are actively hiring on the Jobstreet by SEEK platform are Procter & Gamble, Meralco, McDonald’s, Ayala Corporation, and SM.

On the other hand, workforce reduction across the region had also increased in 2024, with 34% of the companies doing layoffs, retrenchments, or not replacing employees who resigned.

Among the countries, the Philippines and Indonesia experienced the highest workforce reductions last year, likely due to their greater preference for flexible workforces. Meanwhile, Singapore and Thailand had the lowest workforce reduction rates.

However, Jobstreet by SEEK noted that several factors may have contributed to this trend. For instance, affected candidates may have transitioned to new roles, as national statistics agencies across these countries indicate continued employment growth and declining unemployment rates.

The hiring landscape in 2025 is expected to evolve, with 37% of companies in Southeast Asia planning to hire more contract or temporary employees. Moreover, the Philippines’ heavy reliance on contract and temporary candidates is set to continue, with 46% of companies leading this trend in hiring for the first half of 2025.

“As the job market continues to evolve while remaining resilient, Jobstreet by SEEK stays committed to connecting candidates with hirers and delivering valuable insights like this report that empower hiring managers and assist jobseekers in preparing for better, meaningful opportunities,” said Dannah Majarocon, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK in the Philippines.

The report was conducted among over 7,000 hirers and HR professionals across different industries in the region, between September to October 2024.

July 15, 2025 0 comments