THE Philippine labor market remains “resilient and stable” despite a minimal decline in employment rate, according to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
Citing results of the September 2025 Labor Force Survey (LFS), Laguesma said the country’s employment rate stood at 96.2 percent, slightly lower than 96.3 percent in the same period last year.
The unemployment rate inched up to 3.8 percent from 3.7 percent in September 2024, though it improved compared to the previous month’s 3.9 percent.
While the youth unemployment rate rose by 1.6 percentage points year-on-year, the number of unemployed young adults dropped by 44,000 on a month-to-month basis.
“The labor market remains strong and adaptable. “Our continuing goal is not only to create jobs, but to build sustainable careers that uplift Filipino families,” Laguesma said.
Numerous industries recorded notable employment gains, including construction with +514,000, fishing and aquaculture +313,000, accommodation and food service sector +307,000, health and social work +183,000, and agriculture and forestry, +126,000.
Agriculture also showed consistent year-on-year and month-on-month employment growth.
Laguesma said the labor department is intensifying efforts to promote long-term and dignified employment through the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), which continue to play a key role in job placement and career development at the local level.
“This collaboration with PESOs is vital to realizing the Bagong Pilipinas vision, ensuring every Filipino worker achieves ‘trabaho na may dignidad, buhay na maayos (dignified work, orderly existence),” he said.
The Labor chief also highlighted ongoing initiatives to boost youth employability, through partnerships with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education.
He said these efforts aim to strengthen education-to-employment pathways by improving labor market information, aligning curricula with in-demand skills, and easing school-to-work transitions.
