Complete guide

How to find software developers in Manila

Manila
March 1, 2023
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Manilau is a city in the Philippines that is known for its vibrant culture and history. It is the capital of the country and is home to many attractions such as the Manila Bay, the Intramuros district, and the Rizal Park. Its rich culture is reflected in its art, music, and cuisine, as well as its various festivals. Manilau is a great destination for travelers who want to experience the rich culture of the Philippines. Manila is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Manila are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Manila you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Manila, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Manila is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Manila

According to a report from Collabera, the Philippines is now the fourth leading country for tech talent in the world, behind India, the United States and China. The country is home to more than 1.2 million tech professionals, with the number expected to exceed 2 million by 2025. Moreover, the country has the highest percentage of tech professionals compared to other countries, with nearly 6% of its total workforce employed in the technology sector. Additionally, the Philippines is the world's top exporter of technology services, with the IT and Business Process Management (BPM) industry contributing to over 10% of the country's GDP.

The tech ecosystem in Manila

The tech ecosystem in Manila is vibrant and growing. It is home to a number of local and international tech companies, venture capital firms, accelerators, incubators, angel investors, and various other organizations and initiatives that are working to promote the growth of the technology sector in the city. Manila is home to some of the biggest tech events in the region, such as the Manila Game Jam, and it is also the base for a number of startup initiatives, such as the IdeaSpace Foundation and the Philippine Startup Challenge. Additionally, Manila has one of the largest tech talent pools in the region, and it is rapidly becoming a regional hub for tech startups and established tech companies.

Best tech meetups in Manila

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Manila Mobile and Web Tech Meetup
2. Manila DevOps Meetup
3. Manila Software Craftsmanship Meetup
4. Manila JavaScript Meetup
5. Manila PHP Meetup
6. Manila UX Design Meetup
7. Manila Cloud Computing Meetup
8. Manila Women In Tech Meetup
9. Manila Big Data/Data Science Meetup
10. Manila AI and Machine Learning Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Manila

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Online Job Sites: Sites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Upwork are great resources to find software development talent in Manila. They offer a wide range of listings from entry-level to experienced professionals.

2. Referrals: Ask your network for referrals or consider using a recruiting agency to help you find the right candidate.

3. Professional Associations: Professional associations such as the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) or the Philippine Institute of Software Engineers (PISE) can be a great resource for finding software development talent in Manila.

4. Social Media: Social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter can be used to search for software developers in Manila. You can join groups related to software development and send out messages to attract potential candidates.

5. Schools & Universities: Contacting local universities and colleges can be a great way to source software development talent in Manila. Many schools have career centers that can help you find the right candidates.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Manila is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Manila

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Jobstreet
2. Kalibrr
3. LinkedIn
4. Indeed
5. Glassdoor
6. Craigslist
7. Facebook
8. Jobquire
9. Upwork
10. Jobopenings.ph

Best remote job boards to find developers in Manila

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. OnlineJobs.ph
2. Upwork
3. Freelancer.com
4. Remote.co
5. WeWorkRemotely
6. RemoteOK
7. AngelList
8. Jobstreet
9. Kalibrr
10. LinkedIn

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Manila

The average salary for a junior developer in Manila, Philippines is Php 24,000 per month. This amount is based on the median salary information reported by various sources. Junior developers generally have a few years of experience in software development and are responsible for coding, testing and debugging software applications. They may also be responsible for maintaining existing software applications and developing new software applications.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Manila

The average salary for a Senior Developer in Manila is around PHP 681,936 per year. This figure is calculated by taking into account the average salary of Senior Developers across different industries in Manila. This salary range typically falls between PHP 486,502 and PHP 928,903.Senior Developers in Manila are responsible for designing, developing and testing software solutions, as well as troubleshooting and maintaining existing software applications. They may also be required to provide guidance to junior developers, review code and provide technical assistance. Additionally, Senior Developers are expected to have strong knowledge of coding languages, databases and software development principles.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Manila. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Manila. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Manila.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a professional services provider that acts as a legal employer for an employee in a foreign country, such as the Philippines. An EOR can help companies with their hiring and labour compliance needs in a foreign country, such as the Philippines.

1. Choose an EOR:

Before you can use an EOR in the Philippines, you must first choose an EOR that is licensed to offer services in the Philippines. When selecting an EOR, it is important to ensure that the EOR has the necessary experience and expertise to handle your specific hiring and labour compliance needs.

2. Negotiate the Terms of the Agreement:

After selecting an EOR, you must then negotiate the terms of the agreement with the EOR. This typically includes discussing the scope of services the EOR will provide, the fees associated with those services, and any other relevant details.

3. Sign the Agreement:

Once you have negotiated the terms of the agreement with the EOR, you must then sign the contract. This is a legally binding document that outlines the terms and conditions of the agreement.

4. Hire Employees:

Once the agreement is signed, you can then begin the process of hiring employees. The EOR will typically help facilitate this process, from posting job openings to conducting interviews.

5. Comply with Local Laws:

Once you have hired employees, the EOR will help ensure that you comply with all applicable local laws and regulations. This includes ensuring that employees are paid the correct wages, that all necessary paperwork is completed, and that employees are provided with the necessary benefits and protections.

Using an EOR in the Philippines can help streamline the process of hiring and managing employees in a foreign country. The EOR will handle the legal and labour compliance aspects of the hiring process, allowing you to focus on the more important aspects of running your business.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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