PH labor force hits record 52.4 million in June 2025

The Philippine labor force reached an all-time high of 52.4 million in June 2025, as more working-age Filipinos entered or remained in the job market, signaling continued momentum in the country’s economic recovery.

The labor force participation rate (LFPR) climbed to 65.7%, reflecting broad-based participation and increased productivity across sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Unemployment dropped to 3.7%, equivalent to 1.9 million jobless Filipinos, improving from 2.0 million recorded the previous month.

Underemployment fell to 11.4%, with 5.8 million underemployed individuals, down from 6.6 million in May—pointing to rising job quality and stability.

“The numbers are encouraging, but they also remind us that our work is far from over,” said Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto in a statement.

“We need to ensure that more Filipinos have jobs that pay better and offer more security. Hindi lang basta trabaho ang kailangan ng taumbayan. Patuloy nating pagbubutihin ang mga reporma at polisya para ang bawat Pilipino ay may dignidad at proteksyon sa kaniyang hanapbuhay,” he added.

Wage and salary workers continued to make up the largest segment of the employed at 63.0%, with 78.6% working in private establishments and 13.5% in government.

By industry, the services sector accounted for the largest share of total employment at 61.4%, followed by agriculture at 20.9% and industry at 17.7%.

Subsector data showed strong year-on-year gains in fishing and aquaculture (+512,000), wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair (+375,000), financial and insurance activities (+327,000), transportation and storage (+211,000), and health and social work services (+179,000).

The government has launched wide-ranging education and employment programs to sustain the trend and improve job quality.

In his State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to invest in human capital and digitalization to future-proof the workforce.

To meet this goal, agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of Education (DepEd) have ramped up interagency programs targeting skills development, employment access, and entrepreneurship.

DepEd has created 20,000 new teaching positions to reduce classroom burdens and strengthen basic education delivery.

The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program addresses pandemic learning losses through foundational skills training, updated curricula, and expanded technology-vocational (tech-voc) pathways.

Youth-focused initiatives—including the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the Government Internship Program, and JobStart Philippines—continue to serve as on-ramps to productive employment.

Local government coordination has also improved through Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) and school-based Job Placement Offices.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is preparing Filipino workers for global competitiveness through WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025, aligning national training camps with international standards.

In the mining sector, the planetGOLD Project has formalized thousands of small-scale gold miners, providing legal permits, financial access, and safer work conditions.

Meanwhile, the government is crafting the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap to strengthen the country’s role in the global tech supply chain.

The roadmap will focus on investments, innovation, and workforce development—especially crucial for an industry that remains the country’s top export and employs tens of thousands.

Analysts say sustained policy reforms and labor market interventions are needed to fully harness the country’s growing and youthful workforce for inclusive and long-term economic growth.