Philippine labor market resilient in July despite storms

The Philippine labor market remained resilient in July 2025 despite weather-related disruptions, according to Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.

Recto said the government is prioritizing the expansion of access to quality employment and support systems for climate-affected workers.

“Prayoridad namin na mas mapadali at mapalawak ang oportunidad ng mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng mga dekalidad na trabaho,” Recto said.

“Tinutulungan namin kayong makahanap ng tama at disenteng hanapbuhay, palalakasin ang mga training, at ibibigay ang kinakailangang suporta lalo na para sa mga apektado ng climate change,” he added.

In July, 48.64 million Filipinos were part of the labor force, showing stability despite a slight increase in unemployment.

The uptick in joblessness was largely attributed to weather disruptions that temporarily affected employment in agriculture, fishery, forestry, and construction.

To counter this, the government is investing in rural infrastructure, boosting digital connectivity, and widening access to training in agriculture.

The services sector led job generation, comprising 62.8% of total employment, followed by industry at 18.7% and agriculture at 18.5%.

Of the employed population, 68.7% were wage and salary workers, reflecting continued growth in formal, stable jobs.

Private establishments added 987,000 jobs year-over-year, while government and state-owned entities hired an additional 228,000 workers.

In support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, job facilitation efforts were expanded nationwide.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) enhanced its job matching services through PhilJobNet and local job fairs like the World Café of Opportunities in Abra, which offered over 5,000 openings.

A new data-sharing agreement between DOLE and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) aims to strengthen labor market analysis and policymaking.

To boost employability, the government deployed various training programs through agencies such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Technical-vocational education was extended to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries under these initiatives.

Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) graduates also received starter toolkits to support their entry into the workforce.

Flexible and community-based learning programs were introduced in Ilocos to increase regional accessibility to education and training.

A partnership between TESDA and TCL led to the creation of a specialized training center for domestic refrigeration.

The government also launched the AI Academy to prepare the Filipino workforce for emerging roles in automation and machine learning.