Manila: The Marcos administration has vowed to intensify its initiatives to create more job opportunities for Filipinos, as Malaca±ang welcomes the recent rise in employment figures recorded in May 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the nation's labor force participation rate climbed to 65.8 percent in May 2025, a notable increase from 64.8 percent in the same month of the previous year. This development comes as a positive sign amid ongoing efforts by the government to enhance employment conditions.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s satisfaction with the progress made. She emphasized the administration's commitment to enhancing its performance in job creation, stating, "We will work harder. It doesn't end here. Apparently, it's not something to celebrate. The administration needs to show better performance so that it can provide more jobs to our countrymen."

The Marcos administration, under its "New Philippines" initiative, aims to further expand employment opportunities for its citizens. Government data indicates that from 2022 to May 1, 2025, job fairs have facilitated the creation of 170,000 jobs for Filipinos.

The PSA's Labor Force Survey highlighted that an additional 1.4 million Filipinos have joined the workforce, bringing the total to 52.32 million individuals. The unemployment rate slightly decreased to 3.9 percent in May 2025 from 4.1 percent in May 2024.

However, the underemployment rate saw an increase, reaching 13.1 percent in May 2025 from 9.9 percent the previous year. This rise is attributed to more part-time workers seeking additional hours, influenced by variable work schedules or the nature of their jobs, as detailed in the PSA report.