The number of employed Filipinos dropped by over one million in March 2025, with significant losses in the agriculture sector and the public administration field, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA data revealed that the total number of employed individuals aged 15 and above fell to 48.02 million in March, down from 49.15 million in the same period last year. The decrease was driven primarily by the agriculture and forestry sector, which lost 609,000 jobs, and the public administration and defense sector, which shed 394,000 jobs.
PSA Chief Claire Dennis Mapa explained that the decline in public sector employment was influenced by the election-related ban on government hiring and promotions, which was in effect from March 28 to May 11. “For public administration and defense, compulsory social security… these are employees in government [so] we feel this was affected by the election ban,” Mapa said.
Other sectors that saw significant job losses included manufacturing, which lost 281,000 jobs, and wholesale and retail trade, which declined by 175,000.
Despite the decline in employment, the national unemployment rate remained relatively stable at 3.9%, while the underemployment rate—representing those seeking additional work—rose to 13.4%, a notable increase from the 11% recorded in March 2024.
In response, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) launched the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, a 10-year strategic framework aimed at boosting job creation, enhancing workforce skills, and improving job quality.
Rosemarie Edillon, DEPDev Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, described the initiative as “both timely and essential,” emphasizing its focus on upskilling, reskilling, and fostering a future-ready workforce.
“Our collective task now is to translate this plan into concrete action—guided by data, informed by social dialogue, and driven by a shared purpose,” Edillon said.
