More Filipinos secured jobs—and better ones—this February, with fewer people unemployed or underemployed compared to the previous month, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in February, an improvement from January’s 4.3%. This translates to about 1.94 million Filipinos without work, down from 2.16 million a month earlier. Meanwhile, the labor force participation stood at 51.09 million.
Underemployment also saw a notable decrease, falling to 10.1% from 13.3% in January. Underemployment refers to those who have jobs but are still seeking additional work or hours due to insufficient income.
The PSA said job gains were seen in sectors like accommodation and food services, which added 377,000 jobs—reflecting stronger consumer activity. Fishing and aquaculture followed with 365,000 jobs, aided by favorable weather conditions. Other industries that contributed to job growth include public administration and defense, construction, and other service-related sectors.
However, not all sectors shared the same momentum. Agriculture and forestry lost the most jobs year-on-year, with nearly a million positions gone. Administrative support and transportation also recorded job losses.
Interestingly, around 41,000 jobs were added in political-related activities, which the PSA believes may be tied to the upcoming election season, though the increase was not considered significant.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan highlighted the government’s ongoing push to attract more investments and roll out big-ticket infrastructure projects, especially in energy, transport, and digital sectors, to further stimulate employment and economic growth.
