By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive on ensuring that Filipinos have access to equitable jobs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported significant progress in the domestic labor market, according to the results of the agency’s August 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS) released on Wednesday.
The labor force participation rate (LFPR) was pegged at 65.1%, up from 60.7% in July, which represents a total of 52.13 million Filipinos aged 15 and above that are actively contributing to the country’s bottomline—marking an increase from 48.64 million in July.
The survey also noted a 10.7% underemployment rate, down from 11.2% in 2024, which translates to 103,000 more Filipinos holding stable, full-time jobs, complemented by a growth in wage and salaried jobs in the private sector.
At the Malacañang press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro welcomed the labor force developments noted by the PSA, which she cites as a product of the government’s progressive approach towards generating jobs for the citizenry.
Castro said, “Hindi po kasi tumitigil ang pamahalaan. Mayroon po tayong mga job fairs na nagaganap para po mailapit natin ang mga trabaho sa ating mga kababayan.”
She added further, “Hindi po tayo nagtatapos diyan dahil patuloy pa rin po ang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan, ng Pangulo, para mas marami pa po tayong trabahong mai-generate para sa ating mga kababayan.”
Equitable employment vis-à-vis economic growth
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan likewise recognized the results of PSA’s labor force survey as indicative of the efficiency of government programs geared towards expanding employment opportunities for the masses, which is set to sustain the country’s economic growth.
Secretary Balisacan also said that DEPDev aims to build on these positive labor market developments by advancing policies and strategies under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan 2025-2034, which seeks to steer the Philippine workforce toward higher-value segments and generate better-quality employment opportunities.
The Economy chief pledged, “Guided by the TPB Plan, we aim to support the transformation of the labor force toward higher-paying and more productive jobs by attracting investments, developing a competitive and skills-ready workforce, and strengthening labor market governance to effectively respond to evolving conditions.”
He concluded his remarks by citing the agency’s plan of action to sustain the momentum of declining unemployment and underemployment, as well as initiatives on protecting workers from global headwinds and various challenges to promote labor market resilience. (with report from Kenneth Paciente | PTV News)
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