By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Amid various headwinds, including disasters and pressing national issues that defined 2025, the Philippine government has reported resilience within the domestic labor market.
This, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), is accompanied by a sizable increase in the labor force participation rate (LFPR), as well as other notable developments in the employment of Filipinos across the country.
In a press conference Wednesday, PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa shared the results of the October 2025 Labor Force Survey, which showcases a LFPR of 63.6%, higher than the 60.7% figure recorded in July.
This is the equivalent of 51.16 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over who were actively contributing to the nation’s bottomline, a significant boost compared to 48.64 million who gained employment halfway through the year.
The LFPR mirrors a decline in the country’s unemployment rate—5% compared to 5.3% in July; underemployment rate—12% compared to 14.8% in July; and an uptick in the employment rate—95% compared to 94.7% in July.
These figures showcase a positive trajectory in national development, as the LFPR experienced an uptick across nearly all regions of the Philippines, with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao topping the charts at 69.6%.
Ditto applies to the employment rate by region, with SOCCKSARGEN posting the highest figure at 96.8%, with Region 12 also showing the lowest unemployment rate at 3.2%.
In the underemployment rate by region, Davao Region ranked the lowest in comparison to other locales at 3.9%, thus highlighting a trend of labor market stability in Mindanao.
These results paint the picture of a labor market that continues to thrive amidst economic uncertainty, and highlight the effectiveness of measures by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that Filipinos have equitable access to job opportunities across the archipelago. (with report from Denise Ossorio | PTV News)
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