SUCCESSIVE typhoons and the earthquake in Cebu last month could erode the country’s employment gains in August, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Based on the Labor Force Survey (LFS), the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent, representing a total of 2.03 million jobless Filipinos, or a reduction of 560,000 compared to the July survey.
The PSA said the country’s underemployment rate also declined to 10.7 percent or 5.38 million underemployed Filipinos. This is 1.42 million less than what was reported in July.
‘There is a risk in September because of a lot of typhoons. While there is a substantial portion of our labor market that is somehow protected from these kinds of disasters, there is a portion of our labor market that is dependent on weather conditions,’ National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in the vernacular.
‘Workers in agriculture and retail sale are among those that are dependent on weather conditions. The earthquake in Cebu could also have an impact on employment [in September]’ he added.
Favorable weather conditions also helped buoy the number of Filipinos in the Labor Force to 52.13 million Filipinos aged 15 and over who were employed, unemployed, and underemployed. This was 3.49 million more than the 48.64 million reported in July 2025.
A total of 50.1 million Filipinos were employed in August, a 4.05-million increase compared to July 2025. This translated to an employment rate of 96.1 percent.
Compared to last year, there were 942,000 jobs created in August 2025. This is mainly composed of older workers, or those between 35 and 44 years old (260,000 workers) and the 55 to 64 years old with 244,000 workers.
Most of those between 35 and 44 years old found jobs in construction, administrative services, and manufacturing; while the 55 to 64 years olds were in agriculture and wholesale and retail trade.
It may be noted that there was also an addition of 116,000 employed among the 65 years old and over. These workers were mostly in agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture.
On a year on year basis, PSA data showed construction posted the largest increase in jobs with 540,000 workers; fishing and aquaculture, 448,000; and administrative and support services activities, 307,000 jobs.
These were followed by agriculture and forestry, with an addition of 300,000 jobs and other service activities with 239,000 jobs.
Other service activities include repairs of computers and personal and household goods; laundry services; domestic services; funeral related activities; other personal service activities; and other personals services for wellness except sport activities.
DepDev’s call
Meanwhile, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) emphasized the need to protect vulnerable workers and pushed for better work policies and programs to sustain the growth of the country’s labor market in August.
The country’s chief economist said the government plans to implement structural improvements particularly to sectors that are dependent on weather conditions, as well as defend them from uncertainties in both the domestic and global front.
‘We aim to enhance resilience in sectors vulnerable to disruptions, such as retail trade and agriculture, by prioritizing improvements in logistics, infrastructure, digitalization, and workforce development, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises [MSMEs],’ DepDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.
‘The government is also ramping up investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and proactive measures, alongside timely emergency employment programs to support workers affected by disruptions,’ he added.
To sustain the gains of the labor force, the DepDev aims to advance policies and strategies under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan 2025-2034, the country’s national employment master plan that aims to solve unemployment and other labor market challenges.
‘We aim to support the transformation of the labor force toward higher-paying and more productive jobs by attracting investments, developing a competitive and skills-ready workforce, and strengthening labor market governance to effectively respond to evolving conditions,’ he said.
Balisacan also echoed his support for the Government Internship Program (GIP), which provides Filipino youths with work experience within public service.
The PSA data showed the employment rate for Filipino youths aged 15-24 also rose to 88.3 percent, amounting to 5.92 million.
‘Enhancing school-to-work transitions and strengthening youth employability will enable young Filipinos to acquire the skills needed to thrive in the workplace. As industries evolve, we must ensure that our workers are equipped with the competencies required in new and emerging sectors-so that no Filipino is left behind in our country’s development journey,’ Balisacan added.
DOLE cites steady recovery
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) weighed in on the August jobs data, saying, ‘This is a powerful manifestation of our economy’s resilience and continued strength, reflecting a marked improvement from 4.0 percent recorded in August of last year.’
According to Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, ‘This performance is even more impactful when viewed against the 5.3 percent unemployment rate in July 2025, demonstrating an aggressive and successful recovery.’
Laguesma said the August LFS results highlight stronger employment creation, with the rate reaching 96.1 percent compared to 94.7 percent in July.
‘[This highlights] the strong driving job recovery and employment creation across the country and confirming that more Filipinos are participating in the labor market,’ he said.
He added that job quality also improved, as underemployment declined to 10.7 percent from 14.8 percent in July.
‘This indicates that the country is transitioning more workers from insufficient and inadequate part-time work to substantial, more permanent and decent employment,’ Laguesma said.
To sustain the momentum, DOLE said it will continue its employment facilitation initiatives through a ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to ‘unlock the full potential’ of the workforce and assure its global competitiveness.
Laguesma also said the department plans to expand its pre-employment and internship initiatives-including Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program (GIP), and JobStart Philippines-to help young workers gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and build stronger work values.
‘DOLE will remain steadfast in its commitment to efficient, honest, and transparent public service in the implementation of our programs, projects and activities. Our ultimate core mission is to empower every Filipino worker through programs that cultivate a competitive, dynamic and robust workforce,’ he added.