DOLE: Phl labor market sees steady employment gains

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noted on Thursday, 1 May, that the Philippine labor market continues to demonstrate resilience and improvement amid local and global economic disruptions.

The DOLE likewise noted that labor force figures indicate a notable upswing in employment and reductions in both unemployment and underemployment from 2024 to early 2025.

In 2024, the country recorded an average employment rate of 96.2 percent, an improvement from the previous year’s 95.6 percent and 94.6 percent in 2022.

The average unemployment rate in 2024 stood at 3.8 percent, while underemployment dropped to 11.9 percent from 12.3 percent in 2023 and 14.2 percent in 2022.

The Labor department said monthly Labor Force Survey (LFS) data further illustrate this positive trend, starting from 95.5 percent in January, 96.5 percent in February, 96.1 percent in March, 96 percent in April, 95.9 percent in May, and 96.9 percent in June—the highest monthly rate for the year.

Although employment slightly dipped to 95.3 percent in July, it rebounded to 96 percent in August, 96.3 percent in September, 96.1 percent in October, 96.8 percent in November, and again peaked at 96.9 percent in December.

By December 2024, unemployment had dipped to just 3.1 percent—the lowest for the year—while underemployment also declined to 10.9 percent, which indicates that fewer workers were seeking additional hours or jobs to meet their needs.

The yearly momentum continued at the start of 2025. In January, the employment rate stood at 95.7 percent, improving further to 96.2 percent in February.

Underemployment rose month-on-month to 13.3 percent but improved in February to 10.1 percent.

In a Palace briefing on 10 February, days after the employment figures for December 2024 were released, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said, “DOLE will always expect that the continued employment of Filipinos can be sustained,” citing commitment to implement programs outlined in the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan and Philippine Labor and Employment Plan, as well as the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan.

In separate statements in March and April following the release of the January 2025 and February 2025 LFS, Laguesma mentioned initiatives to further strengthen the labor market, such as the conduct of monthly or bi-weekly job fairs, support to enterprises, the digitalization of public employment services, upskilling and reskilling programs, boosting youth employment programs, coordination with government and private partners, the alignment of training with industry needs, and the formulation of “sound and responsive employment policies,” among others.

The Labor chief also reaffirmed the “commitment to advancing the Philippine labor market through evidence-based strategies and a whole-of-government approach.”

“We remain dedicated to prioritizing the creation of quality jobs, supporting underemployed workers, and adapting to the changing labor landscape to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth,” he added.