DOLE ramps up quality jobs drive

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said last week it will step up programs aimed at creating more quality jobs following improved labor market indicators in May, even as unemployment remained higher than a year ago.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed the resilience of the Philippine labor market while highlighting the need to sustain reforms that promote productive and decent employment.

“The challenge before us is no longer simply creating jobs. We must create quality jobs that provide decent incomes, encourage productivity, and prepare Filipinos for the jobs of tomorrow,” Tolentino said in a statement.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that employment rose to 49.63 million in May from 48.89 million in April, adding around 740,000 employed Filipinos.

The underemployment rate likewise improved to 12.2 percent from 15.2 percent in April, equivalent to about 1.16 million fewer workers looking for additional jobs or longer working hours.

However, compared with the same month last year, unemployment increased to 4.8 percent, or 2.50 million jobless Filipinos, from 3.9 percent, or 2.03 million, in May 2025.

Despite the year-on-year rise in unemployment, underemployment eased from 13.1 percent to 12.2 percent, indicating that fewer employed workers were seeking extra work or longer hours.

The PSA attributed the employment gains to stronger hiring in administrative and support service activities, accommodation and food service activities, construction, human health and social work activities, and agriculture and forestry.

To build on the gains, Tolentino said DOLE will expand employment facilitation, workforce development, and livelihood initiatives across the country.

Among the measures are enhanced labor education for graduating students, wider implementation of the nationwide Trabaho Agad Job Fairs, stronger collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to improve workers’ skills and employability, and the integration of entrepreneurship support into the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program to help beneficiaries establish sustainable sources of income.

Tolentino also said the country’s recent attainment of upper middle-income country status presents an opportunity to generate better-paying jobs and improve workforce productivity.

He added that DOLE will continue working with employers, workers, educational institutions, local government units, and development partners to strengthen the education-to-employment pipeline and ensure that economic growth leads to more productive, inclusive, and decent work opportunities under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.