Manila: The number of employed Filipinos increased in April this year, and the government remains committed to implementing reforms that will create more high-quality jobs.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday that the number of employed Filipinos rose to 48.67 million in April this year, up from 48.35 million in the same month in 2024. National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted that the employment rate during the month stood at 95.9 percent, with significant employment gains observed in industries such as administrative and support service activities, public administration and defense, agriculture and forestry, construction, and education.
The underemployment rate settled at 14.6 percent, equating to 7.09 million employed individuals seeking additional work hours or new job opportunities with longer hours in April 2025. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate was recorded at 4.1 percent, slightly higher than the 4 percent documented in April last year, with 2.06 million Filipinos unemployed.
"Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the Philippine labor market continues to demonstrate resilience amid global headwinds," stated Rosemarie Edillon, the officer in charge and Undersecretary for Policy and Planning at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev). She expressed confidence in meeting the target unemployment range of 4.4 to 4.7 percent set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. Edillon also highlighted that the rollout of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan and the influx of new investments are expected to further enhance the country's labor force in the coming months.
Government initiatives aimed at improving the employability of jobseekers and workers include enhancing the Technical, Vocational, and Livelihood track in Senior High School, implementing the Government Internship Program for new graduates, and offering skills training programs through various modalities. Edillon emphasized the importance of leveraging the private sector's role in training and skills development, allowing the workforce to benefit from industry expertise. The Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework will see the government, in partnership with the private sector, co-develop programs focusing on digital, technical, and soft skills to prepare learners for emerging industries.
Edillon stressed the need to prioritize the development and promotion of a national policy for lifelong learning to ensure workers remain agile. The effective implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program will support lifelong learning by recognizing prior learning and work experience as industry-accepted qualifications.
The government aims to promote measures that enhance the productivity of domestic industries, especially those generating higher-quality jobs, to bolster the labor market's resilience amid external uncertainties. Attracting more investments to create higher-quality and better-paying jobs, particularly in manufacturing and higher-value-added services, along with expanding into new markets, is deemed essential for broadening the economy and opening up more job opportunities for Filipino workers.
Additionally, the newly established Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council will aid local firms in diversifying their product mix and upgrading technological capacity to meet new product demands. The government will also pursue programs that equip workers with the necessary skills and ensure the presence of crucial infrastructures.
