Western Visayas joblessness, underemployment both rise in 2025

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Western Visayas’ labor market came under increasing pressure in 2025 as both unemployment and underemployment rates climbed, even as total employment continued to grow, according to the latest Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority Region 6 (PSA-6).

PSA-6 reported May 28 that the region’s unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in 2025 from 3.6 percent in 2024, translating to about 86,000 unemployed individuals, up from 77,000 the previous year.

The regional rate remained below the national estimate of 4.2 percent.

Among provinces and highly urbanized cities, Antique posted the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent, while Guimaras recorded the lowest at 2.9 percent.

PSA-6 Director Nelida Amolar said the data reflected a decline in elementary occupations, including laborers, construction workers, farm laborers, and domestic workers and cleaners.

Agriculture and forestry posted the largest employment decline, dropping from 473,000 workers in 2024 to 434,000 in 2025.

“When I am studying the data, the one industry that pulled the performance of the region is agriculture. It was indicated there that in agriculture, the elementary laborers decreased and these are the growing of paddy palay, the raising of chickens, the raising of cattle, carabaos, and cows,” Amolar said.

Amolar attributed part of the decline to increased mechanization in agriculture, particularly in palay farming.

“One of our assumptions […] is because of the assistance and the augmentation of machinery like sa palay. If you do the harvest, one harvester versus 10 workers or harvester people. That affects the employment of agricultural workers,” she said.

She clarified, however, that the figures do not signal a shortage of opportunities in the agriculture sector, noting that farm work remains seasonal and weather-dependent, with workers often shifting to construction and other jobs during off-peak periods.

Maria Alessandra Ivy Therese Areño, Administrative Assistant III of the Department of Labor and Employment Region 6, said the region’s unemployment situation “deserves closer attention.”

Sharp rise in underemployment

Underemployment in Western Visayas climbed sharply to 17.1 percent in 2025 from 11.2 percent in 2024, based on the survey.

The figure translates to about 364,000 employed individuals seeking additional work hours, extra jobs, or longer working hours.

Antique recorded the highest underemployment rate at 26.6 percent, while Aklan posted the lowest at 6.5 percent.

Areño said the increase suggests that labor demand has not kept pace with workforce growth.

“The increase may indicate that economic growth and labor demand are still insufficient to absorb the growing workforce,” she said.

“This could also reflect the usual trend that the new entry of job seekers, particularly young people and fresh graduates, affects the labor market. This also suggests that although more jobs have been generated, the labor force also expanded, resulting in more individuals competing for more available employment opportunities,” she added.

Employment increase

Despite rising unemployment and underemployment, the region’s labor force participation rate increased to 64.0 percent in 2025 from 63.8 percent in 2024.

The increase translated to about 2.20 million Filipinos aged 15 and older who were either employed or actively seeking work, up from 2.17 million the previous year.

Although the labor force expanded, the employment rate slightly declined to 96.1 percent in 2025 from 96.4 percent in 2024.

PSA-6 data showed, however, that the actual number of employed persons in Western Visayas still increased to around 2.12 million in 2025 from 2.10 million in 2024, indicating continued job creation alongside workforce growth.

Among provinces and highly urbanized cities, Aklan posted the highest labor force participation rate at 66.9 percent, followed by Antique at 66.3 percent — both exceeding the regional average of 63.8 percent.

Guimaras recorded the lowest labor force participation rate at 61.2 percent.

Amolar noted that while the 2024 survey figures are final, the 2025 data remain preliminary, though no significant revisions are expected given that all four quarters of the 2025 survey have been completed.

“If there will be changes, that would be too minimal,” she said.

Amolar also clarified that the survey covered only workers residing in Western Visayas, excluding those from other regions even if employed within the region.