Government moves to future-proof jobs amid climate, market strains

The government vowed to step up efforts to strengthen climate resilience and workforce agility to shield the country’s labor market from future shocks, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said Wednesday.

The commitment came after July 2025 labor force data showed weaker conditions due to extreme weather events that disrupted economic activity across Luzon and other regions.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that labor force participation fell to 60.7 percent from 63.5 percent in July last year, while unemployment climbed to 5.3 percent from 4.7 percent. Job losses hit agriculture (1.4 million), fishing (173,000), and wholesale and retail (897,000). Underemployment also rose to 14.8 percent from 12.1 percent.

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said boosting productivity and resilience in agriculture through climate-smart practices, rural infrastructure, and digital connectivity is key, alongside wider training opportunities.

“The latest employment figures underscore the urgency of modernizing our economic sectors to withstand disruptions, whether from climate change or technological shifts,” he said.

Balisacan said the government is fast-tracking the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, the first 10-year labor market masterplan, by driving investments in high-value sectors, aligning training with industry demands, and promoting flexible but secure work arrangements.

He also stressed the need to reduce the school-to-work transition period by expanding youth employment initiatives such as the Government Internship Program, JobStart, and the Special Program for Employment of Students.

“The Marcos administration remains focused on addressing job-skills mismatch and preparing the workforce for the demands of a rapidly evolving economic environment,” Balisacan said.