Diversification, Jobs and the COVID-19 Recovery: Exploring Opportunities for Economic Diversification and Productive Employment in the Philippines

The COVID-19 crisis has led to a massive disruption of the economy and labor market in the Philippines. It has also revealed the vulnerabilities of sectors and firms that are dependent on foreign trade and intermediates.

This synthesis report and policy brief explores strategies for strengthening and expanding the country’s industrial base, starting with an analysis of the product space and the labor market, and proposes policy directions to support recovery in the Philippines.

These strategies will also inform the implementation of the United Nations’ updated Cooperation Framework with the Philippines—the Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines (SEPF). The SEPF, which was endorsed by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in 2020, is the UN Philippines's blueprint for supporting the country to recover from the pandemic, while keeping the country on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in a manner that leaves no one behind.