Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go welcomed the country’s strengthening labor market conditions with more Filipinos securing formal employment in October 2025.
In October 2025, there were 48.62 million employed Filipinos––an increase of 5.6% from 46.05 million in the previous quarter.
Wage and salary workers accounted for more than half of the total employed Filipinos at 64.2% or 31.2 million based on the October 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS).
The bulk or 80.0% of wage and salary workers were employed in the private establishments, followed by those employed in government or government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) at 14.8%.
“This is encouraging news as it reflects the government’s continued commitment to create quality jobs that empower Filipinos and strengthen the economy,” Secretary Go said.
More people are joining the jobs market as the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 63.6%, up from 60.7% in July 2025.
Moreover, the unemployment rate improved to 5.0% from 5.3% in July, translating to 576,000 fewer individuals without a job.
The underemployment rate also fell to 12.0% in October 2025 from 14.8% in July 2025, translating to 992,400 Filipinos with more secure jobs.
By major sector, nearly two-thirds or 60.6% of jobs in October 2025 were in the services sector, while industry and agriculture sectors accounted for 17.9% and 21.5% of total employment, respectively.
Among the top sub-sectors contributing to employment gains this October, the agriculture sector registered 1.9 million additional workers.
Meanwhile, accommodation and food service activities also expanded, adding 195,000 jobs quarter-on-quarter and 180,000 year-on-year, as demand gained momentum ahead of the holiday season.
Government efforts to improve labor conditions
In light of the increase in the number of typhoons in the latter half of the year, the government expanded job facilitation and emergency employment programs to support workers affected by recent disasters and promote local labor market participation.
Iloilo City opened its second recruitment hub to match more than 5,000 jobseekers to local and overseas opportunities, supported by free upskilling programs and coordinated assistance for livelihood and internship placements.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also deployed the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program from September 9 to 28, providing temporary employment to over 381,000 displaced workers and extending livelihood grants to additional beneficiaries impacted by recent typhoons and earthquakes.
Apart from job fairs and upskilling programs, the government ensures that workers’ rights are upheld. The DOLE directed all field offices to ensure strict compliance with Presidential Decree No. 851 on mandatory 13th-month pay for all rank-and-file employees who have rendered at least one month of work, regardless of employment status or method of wage payment.
In Central Luzon, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board increased the daily minimum wages across sectors—PHP 475 to PHP 570 for non-agriculture, PHP 450 to PHP 540 for agriculture, and PHP 460 to PHP 560 for small retail and service establishments—to enhance job quality and strengthen worker retention.
Meanwhile, to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public services, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced plans to fill nearly 2,000 vacancies and prioritize promotions for qualified employees, including long-serving contractual and job order personnel.
