MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Secretary Francis N. Tolentino reaffirmed the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) commitment to addressing persistent employment challenges and expanding access to sustainable work opportunities, even as the August 2026 Labor Force Survey showed encouraging gains in the country’s labor market.
The number of employed Filipinos reached 49.79 million in August 2026, increasing by 574,000 from July, as the country’s labor market showed signs of improvement, according to the latest Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The survey also showed that the country’s labor force increased to 52.56 million, raising the labor force participation rate from 63.6 percent in July to 64.0 percent. The employment rate likewise improved to 94.7 percent from 94.0 percent, while the unemployment rate declined to 5.3 percent from 6.0 percent. The number of unemployed persons fell by 375,000 month on month, from 3.14 million to 2.77 million.
Meanwhile, the underemployment rate declined to 11.9 percent in August 2026 from 12.9 percent in July. The number of underemployed persons also fell by 424,000 month-on-month to 5.91 million. However, the year-on-year underemployment rate remained higher than the 10.7 percent recorded in August 2025.
“The improvement in August is encouraging, particularly the increase in employment and decline in unemployment. But we cannot be complacent. Our task is to make sure that jobseekers are connected to opportunities, workers have relevant skills, and employment assistance leads to more sustainable work,” Secretary Tolentino said, noting that the latest figures reflect continued employment activity as labor market conditions continue to evolve.
Enhanced employment facilitation
For the remainder of the year, the Department has recalibrated its targets to focus on tangible outcomes for workers, employers, and its partners. Key priorities include expanding TRABAHO AGAD job fairs, scaling up skills development for a future-ready workforce, strengthening pathways from employment assistance to sustainable livelihoods, and improving regional service delivery. This requires stronger employment facilitation, especially in regions with higher unemployment and underemployment rates, to support regional recovery.
“We need to closely monitor where opportunities are growing and where gaps remain, and make sure that our employment services, skills programs, and livelihood interventions respond to those needs,” the labor chief said, underscoring that these initiatives are vital as employment opportunities continue to shift across sectors and geographic areas.
Secretary Tolentino emphasized that DOLE’s efforts go beyond improving labor market indicators, highlighting the need to ensure that more Filipinos gain access to decent, productive, and sustainable work: “Our success should be measured not only by how many workers we assist today, but by how many are able to move forward tomorrow through a job, new skills, an enterprise, or a better livelihood.”
Youth employment
The August Labor Force Survey showed improved labor market outcomes, with youth employment rising to 84.3 percent and unemployment declining to 15.7 percent.
To sustain this momentum, DOLE is strengthening school-to-work and skills-to-jobs pathways through the Government Internship Program, Special Program for the Employment of Students, JobStart Philippines, and Trabaho Agad, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Migrant Workers, Public Employment Service Offices, local government units, and employers.
Complementary measures, including the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program and the Adjustment Measures Program, support youth livelihoods while helping MSMEs preserve employment amid economic challenges.
Towards more sustainable economic opportunities
The Department also intensified emergency employment and community recovery interventions during August. Through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, DOLE mobilized around 171,000 workers in more than 9,300 public schools under the expanded Brigada Eskwela initiative with the Department of Education.
Beyond immediate income support, DOLE is strengthening TUPAD as a bridge to sustainable livelihoods and careers by establishing integrated work-to-skills, work-to-enterprise, and work-to-employment pathways through the implementation of the seven flagship TUPAD innovations. These initiatives aim to transition beneficiaries from short-term emergency employment toward skills development, entrepreneurship, job placement, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
DOLE remains committed to intensifying its employment facilitation and workforce development programs, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that economic growth translates into more productive, inclusive, resilient, and future-ready employment opportunities for Filipino workers. END
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