The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported a significant drop in unemployment, with 69,000 fewer jobless Filipinos year-on-year—down from 2 million in March 2024 to 1.931 million in March 2025.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the employment rate remains strong at 96.1 percent, close to February’s high of 96.2 percent, indicating a stable labor market. He added that both labor force participation and unemployment rates continue to exceed targets in the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
Significant job gains were seen in sectors such as education, administrative support, fishing and aquaculture, entertainment, and healthcare, with a shift toward more specialized roles like technicians and sales professionals.
From January to April 2025, DOLE conducted 338 job fairs nationwide, generating over 670,000 vacancies from 10,000 local and overseas employers. More than 260,000 positions were offered during the Labor Day fair alone.
Laguesma said the government’s Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan 2025–2034 is expected to address persistent labor market issues like job-skill mismatch and regional disparities, aiming to create more quality employment opportunities.
