The Department of Labor and Employment reported on Thursday that the employment rate for 2023 has increased to 95.6 percent, which is 0.9% higher than last year's 94.7 percent.

The agency said that the continuous improvement is not evident in one industry alone, but is composed of five sub-sectors that show annual increases in the number of employed persons, which include Fishing and aquaculture (+572,000), Construction (+534,000), Agriculture and Forestry (+378,000), Human health and social work activities (+153,000), and Administrative and support service activities (+143,000).

The gain in agricultural employment is attributed to the early harvest of rice in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato. This was confirmed by Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, Leocadio Sebastian, that the early harvest of rice would take place from the last week of August until September.

DOLE reported that the unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percent to 4.4 percent in August 2023 from 5.3 percent in the previous year, which shows that out of 48.07 million employed Filipinos in 2023, only 11.7 are underemployed.

DOLE added that the bill signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, along with the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028, will execute an in-depth analysis of the country's employment situation and labor market, as well to ensure the effective use of resources by harmonizing and complementing all government activities.

The Department of Labor and Employment stated that the agency will continuously strive to promote quality employment, labor rights, and fair salaries.