Filipino Employees Rank Second for Workplace Happiness in Asia Pacific

(SPOT.ph) Filipinos are apparently some of the happiest employees in the Asia Pacific, which is simultaneously the most Filipino and unFilipino thing ever, considering many are also stressed, burned out, and thinking about switching careers.

That is according to the latest Workplace Happiness Index: Philippines 2025 by Jobstreet by SEEK, which found that 77% of Filipino workers said they are somewhat or extremely happy at work. That makes the Philippines the second-happiest workforce in the Asia Pacific region, just behind Indonesia, where 82% of workers reported being happy.

The report suggested that workplace happiness is no longer just about salary. Pay still matters, obviously—rent, bills, and iced coffee will not pay for themselves—but Filipinos are now placing more weight on purpose, personal wellbeing, career growth, and day-to-day responsibilities when evaluating how happy they are at work.

Salary remains the top factor in attracting and retaining employees, but the report found that purpose has a stronger link to personal satisfaction. In particular, workers placed importance on whether work feels meaningful. That may help explain why our score is so high. The survey found that 77% of Filipino respondents feel valued at work, while 74% said their jobs are fulfilling.

Across the Philippines, workers in the Visayas reported the highest level of workplace happiness at 82%, followed by the National Capital Region at 77%. Luzon and Mindanao were tied at 76%.

Also read: More Than Half of Filipinos Want to Resign—Are You One of Them?

This is where it gets interesting: Filipino workers may like their work, but that does not mean they’re breezing through the day. The same report said only 41% of employees said they are in control of their stress levels, while 38% said they are burnt out or extremely exhausted at work.

That pressure is also showing up in how workers think about their next move. Jobstreet by SEEK found that 55% of respondents think about changing careers somewhat or extremely often. Those unhappy with career progression were also more likely to consider leaving.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another emerging concern. According to the report, 41% of Filipino workers said they were worried about AI’s potential impact on their jobs. Job security was not necessarily a strong driver of workplace happiness, but Jobstreet by SEEK said it’s still something employers need to keep an eye on.

Jobstreet by SEEK's findings were based on a region-wide survey conducted from October to November 2025, covering more than 10,500 employed individuals across the Asia Pacific. In the Philippines, the survey included 1,000 Filipino workers aged 18 to 64 from across the country.

Also read: The Philippines Ranks Second to Last in Work-Life Balance