Employment rises to 50.1 million in August

The number of employed Filipinos rose to 50.1 million in August 2025, up from 46.05 million in July, according to the latest Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the employment rate stood at 96.1 percent, with the services sector accounting for 61.5 percent of total jobs, followed by agriculture (20.4 percent) and industry (18.1 percent).

The labor force participation rate increased to 65.1 percent, while unemployment dropped to 3.9 percent, equivalent to 2.03 million jobless Filipinos. Underemployment also improved to 10.7 percent from 14.8 percent the previous month.

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan welcomed the positive figures, saying they reflect the government’s commitment to creating decent and productive jobs.

“These gains show that more Filipinos are benefiting from sustained economic growth. We are focused on generating not just jobs, but quality jobs that raise incomes and improve well-being,” he said.

Balisacan said DEPDev will build on these gains through the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan 2025–2034, which aims to develop a skills-ready workforce, attract investments, and generate better-quality employment opportunities.

He also underscored the need to protect vulnerable workers amid economic and climate challenges by improving logistics, digitalization, and infrastructure, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

“As industries evolve, we must ensure our workers have the skills needed in emerging sectors—so that no Filipino is left behind in our country’s development journey,” Balisacan said.