News Details

August employment rate climbs to 96.1%, DOLE hails strong economic momentum

NPO

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October 8, 2025

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday lauded the country’s robust labor market, as the employment rate rose to 96.1 percent in August 2025 — a sign, it said, of continued economic strength and resilience.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reflects an “impressive performance” of the Philippine economy, despite recent challenges such as successive typhoons.

“From 96.0 percent in August 2024, the employment rate improved to 96.1 percent this year. More notably, it’s a strong rebound from 94.7 percent in July 2025, underscoring accelerated job recovery and broader labor market participation,” Laguesma said.

He also highlighted the drop in the unemployment rate to 3.9 percent from 5.3 percent in July 2025 — evidence, he said, of the country’s economic resilience and sustained recovery.

“The data show that more Filipinos are finding decent, stable jobs. This reflects our transition from part-time and insufficient work toward more permanent and productive employment,” he added.

According to the DOLE chief, the Services sector continues to be the country’s primary employment driver, accounting for 61.5 percent of total jobs. Agriculture contributed 20.4 percent, while the Industry sector maintained a solid 18.1 percent share.

“These figures mirror a dynamic and diversified economy, where growth in people-centered industries, supported by stability in agriculture and industry, strengthens our overall foundation,” Laguesma said.

To sustain the momentum, DOLE is expanding key employment initiatives such as the Special Program for the Employment of Students, the Government Internship Program (GIP), and JobStart Philippines. These programs aim to provide young Filipinos with hands-on experience, practical skills, and essential work values, in partnership with Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), the private sector, and other government agencies.

Laguesma also announced new collaborations designed to enhance employment insights and opportunities. DOLE recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to improve data-driven labor and economic analysis.

Additionally, a partnership with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) seeks to strengthen youth employability and expand job opportunities in the IT-BPM sector.

“These efforts align with the administration’s goal of uplifting Filipino lives by building a resilient, job-generating economy — one that matches skills with opportunities and supports small businesses in creating more quality jobs,” Laguesma said.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR