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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippine employment dips to 94.7% in July amid surge of new workers

Philippine employment dips to 94.7% in July amid surge of new workers

Published Sep 10, 2025 04:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Employment rate slid to 94.7% in July 2025
  • Jobless rate rose to 5.3% with 1.7M new entrants
  • Disasters disrupted livelihoods in key sectors
  • Underemployment climbed to 14.8%
  • DOLE programs aided over 1.4M workers nationwide
The Philippine employment rate dipped to 94.7 percent in July 2025 amid the entry of 1.7 million new workers into the labor force, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
The July Labor Force Survey showed the unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent from 4.7 percent a year earlier, as labor entrants increased from 1.25 million to 1.7 million.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the rise in labor force participation reflected jobseekers’ confidence, but the sudden influx weighed on the employment rate as not all entrants secured work immediately.
He added that multiple tropical cyclones and an enhanced southwest monsoon compounded the labor challenges, bringing flooding, landslides, and operational halts in agriculture, construction, fishing, and retail sectors.
According to the NDRRMC, more than 200,000 families were affected, with many workers experiencing temporary job losses and reduced hours, driving underemployment to 14.8 percent.
Despite the overall dip, employment gains were noted in administrative and support services, transportation and storage, human health and social work, manufacturing, and education.
The survey also reported an increase in educated unemployed, rising from 1.057 million to 1.122 million, underscoring the need for stronger school-to-work pathways for graduates.
To address these challenges, DOLE said it has assisted 158,000 young people through employability programs and placed 1.258 million workers nationwide through Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).
It also mounted 957 job fairs in partnership with local governments, agencies, and the private sector, benefiting nearly 39,000 applicants, while livelihood and emergency employment programs supported 1.4 million beneficiaries.
“Upskilling and reskilling are essential to advancing careers and moving into higher-skilled sectors,” Laguesma said, echoing President Marcos’ remark at the WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 opening that skills are “the new global currency, the foundation of innovation, and the engine of industry.”
He stressed that weather disruptions have reinforced DOLE’s push for sustainable employment, noting that the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN chairmanship will advance green jobs and just-transition strategies.
“We are not daunted nor discouraged by this recent LFS result,” he said, vowing closer collaboration with the private sector, particularly in disaster-hit areas, to build a competitive and resilient workforce.

Related Tags

DOLE . employment rate labor market unemployment underemployment
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