Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto hailed the country’s strong labor market performance, noting that 50.1 million Filipinos were employed in August 2025 — among the highest levels on record — with more full-time and stable jobs created.

“Ang patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga Pilipino na may trabaho ay patunay na lumalago ang ating ekonomiya sa paraang tunay na nakikinabang ang karaniwang mamamayan. Ang layunin natin ay hindi lang makapagbigay ng trabaho, kundi matiyak na bawat Pilipino ay may pagkakataong umasenso sa pamamagitan ng trabahong dekalidad, may dignidad, at may seguridad,” he said.

The labor market added 942,000 new jobs in August compared to the same period last year, bringing the total number of unemployed Filipinos down to just 2.03 million. This is equivalent to an unemployment rate of 3.9%.

Underemployment likewise improved, declining to 5.4 million Filipinos. This indicates that more workers are securing better-quality and more stable jobs.

The number of workers with full-time and stable employment rose significantly in August, with wage and salary jobs in private establishments up by 1.5 million; full-time employment increasing by 766,000; and vulnerable employment decreasing by 125,000.

In particular, wage and salary workers accounted for 64.4% of total employment in August, equivalent to 32.3 million Filipinos. Workers in private establishments remained the largest group among them.
“This is a good sign that the Filipinos’ access to decent and sustainable livelihoods is improving, paving the way for a broader middle class,” Secretary Recto said.

The year-on-year increase in employment in August was driven by construction (540,000 jobs), fishing and aquaculture (448,000), administrative and support service activities (307,000), agriculture and forestry (300,000), and other service activities (239,000).

Government interventions to improve labor market conditions

Secretary Recto emphasized that the government is committed to sustaining this momentum through policies that promote inclusive growth, skills development, and investments in high-value sectors that create better-paying and future-ready jobs.

The government has expanded job facilitation programs and institutional partnerships nationwide to connect job seekers with the right employers and ensure that no Filipino willing to work is left behind.

In early September, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) organized a series of nationwide job fairs offering over 8,000 vacancies across 254 government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs).

In Eastern Visayas, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) partnered with 35 higher education institutions and training centers to establish job placement offices, strengthening school-to-work transition mechanisms and helping graduates find gainful employment faster.

The DOLE also rolled out the “Handog ng Pangulo 2025” job fairs, mobilizing 1,061 employers and offering nearly 100,000 local and overseas job opportunities, bringing employment directly to communities across the country.

To ensure that the workforce is ready to take on the new economy, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed a partnership with Bizooku Philippines to develop a digital platform linking TESDA-certified workers with clients in need of their services.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. also launched the Turismo Asenso Loan Program to support tourism-related micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through low-interest loans of up to PHP 1 million, payable over three to five years.

The program, implemented by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) via the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), aims to stimulate job creation in food services, accommodations, transport, and tours.

Beyond job creation, the government is also focused on protecting workers and promoting their well-being. It is introducing new legislative measures to safeguard workers outside traditional employment arrangements.

House Bill No. 2856, or the Freelance Workers Protection Act, was filed in the House of Representatives to extend legal safeguards to freelancers, a growing yet vulnerable segment of the workforce. The proposed measure seeks to ensure fair contracts, timely compensation, and protection from discrimination or abuse.