Strengthening the resilience of the Philippine labor market remains a top priority as the government actively responds to emerging domestic and global challenges impacting employment, said the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
The statement follows the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) release of the April 2026 Labor Force Survey (LFS) results.
According to the latest LFS data, the country’s employment landscape is navigating a complex period of transition:
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Employment Growth: Total employment increased to 48.89 million in April 2026, up from 48.67 million in April 2025.
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Dominant Sector: The services sector continues to be the primary driver of jobs, accounting for 62.3% of all employed workers.
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Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.7%, compared to 4.1% in April 2025, driven by softening labor demand in agriculture as well as the wholesale and retail trade sectors.
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Underemployment Rate: The underemployment rate also experienced an increase, rising to 15.2% from 14.6% during the same period last year.
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“The latest labor market indicators reflect both the challenges confronting our economy and the enduring resilience of Filipino workers and businesses,” said DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
Secretary Balisacan noted that the government is closely monitoring the livelihood impacts of recent external and domestic disruptions, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the El Niño phenomenon, and the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.
To mitigate these shocks, the government is deploying a two-pronged immediate response:
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The UPLIFT Framework: Timely support and financial relief are being distributed under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) framework to aid affected households.
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Reconvening the El Niño Task Force: This inter-agency body is being reactivated specifically to safeguard jobs and protect food security, with a heavy focus on vulnerable agricultural communities.
Beyond emergency relief, DEPDev is prioritizing business continuity, market expansion, and the creation of high-quality, sustainable jobs.
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Attracting High-Growth Investments: The government is leveraging international economic partnerships and strategic infrastructure initiatives, such as the Luzon Economic Corridor, to attract investments into cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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Public-Private Skills Alignment: DEPDev is deepening collaboration with the private sector to bridge the skills gap. This includes expanding apprenticeship programs, improving professional certification systems, and facilitating worker mobility into high-value industries like advanced electronics, renewable energy, and digital services.
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Bridging Casual Labor to Formal Careers: Strategic efforts are underway to integrate structural job-formalization pathways into existing temporary employment programs, such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). This will allow displaced workers to transition more seamlessly into stable, higher-paying, and more productive careers.
“These initiatives are essential to building a more resilient labor market that can withstand sudden economic shocks while continuously creating better, more secure opportunities for Filipino workers,” Balisacan concluded.
