Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto underscored the continued strength of the Philippine labor market, emphasizing that more high-quality jobs are awaiting Filipinos as the government deploys targeted, future-ready strategies to boost productivity and future-proof the nation’s workforce.
The Labor Force Survey (LFS) in April 2025 showed that the country’s unemployment rate remained low and within target, averaging 4.0% year-to-date. This is well below the 4.4% to 4.7% target set under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
The country’s underemployment rate also remained relatively low at 14.6%, indicating sustained improvements in the quality of jobs.
Job growth was sustained in key sectors, with the services sector employing 30.14 million individuals in April, up from 29.72 million in the same month last year. The agriculture sector also posted gains, employing 10.02 million workers compared to 9.8 million the previous year.
The majority of the employed individuals remain under the wage and salary workers classification or those with stable and formal jobs, constituting 63.2% of the total employed.
“In line with President Marcos, Jr.’s directive, the economic team is building a labor market that works for the future—resilient, inclusive, and equipped to compete globally. For this is how we reap our demographic dividends, sustain our strong economic growth, and lift more Filipinos out of poverty,” the Finance Chief said.
Govt’s targeted, future-ready labor strategies to sustain workers’ productivity
To stimulate investments and generate jobs, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently engaged with South Korea’s Lotte GRS and other major conglomerates to boost employment in the food and retail sectors.
Lotte GRS plans to open 30 Lotteria branches nationwide, supported by incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) law.
To harness future workforce preparedness and digital transition, the DTI partnered with the World Economic Forum to implement the “Future of Jobs Accelerator”. This projects that 68% of Filipino workers will require training by 2030, with 27% needing full reskilling for new roles.
In line with this, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will roll out micro-credentialing, demand-driven training, and AI ethics in labor governance.
Meanwhile, the newly created Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council will proactively assist local firms in expanding their product mix and upgrading technological capacity to meet new product demands. This is expected to provide higher-quality and better-paying jobs, particularly in manufacturing and higher-value-added services.
In terms of skills certification and training reform, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) approved the National Certification (NC) III for over 68,000 Child Development Workers, addressing gaps in training, job security, and compensation in early childhood education.
TESDA also finalized the implementing rules and regulations of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, highlighting its 85.48% employment rate as evidence of strong industry alignment.
Additionally, TESDA is expanding its international partnerships to improve technical and vocational education and training (TVET), including joint research, training, and scholarship initiatives with foreign institutions.
For the youth, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan, alongside grant support for promising agripreneurs, to boost food security and strengthen local economies.
The DOLE, on the other hand, opened more than 2,700 slots for its Government Internship Program (GIP) in the Ilocos Region to provide disadvantaged youth with on-the-job experience in public service roles.
