By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After unveiling figures on the country’s inflation rate for March 2026, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shared the numbers outlining the status of the nation’s labor force participation rate (LFPR).
In a livestream on Wednesday, Chief Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa highlighted positive developments on the country’s labor force, which works well for those who contribute to the country’s bottom line.
Mapa noted a 63.8% LFPR for February 2026, higher than the 62.3% recorded in January—equivalent to a labor force population of 52.09 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above.
This figure dwarfs the 51.09 million workers recorded in February 2025 and 50.89 million in January 2026, which likewise translates into a decline of the unemployment rate to 5.1% in February 2026 from 5.8% in January.
The notable increase in Filipinos joining the labor force is also reflected in the uptick in employment rate recorded by the PSA—pegged at 94.9% in February 2026, up from 94.2% in January.
Among the sectors responsible for the increase in the number of employed persons were the following:
- Administrative and support service activities
- Transportation and storage
- Accommodation and food service activities
- Financial and insurance activities
- Human health and social work activities
The underemployment rate also saw a significant decrease, with 11.8% recorded in February 2026 cited as lower than 13.2% in January—equivalent to fewer labor workers seeking longer work hours or having an additional job to make ends meet.
These figures paint a picture of a domestic labor market that continues to thrive and remains resilient in the face of the national energy emergency, with the government continuing its pursuit to find ways to ease the burden of the common folk.
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