MANILA, Philippines– The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released its Labor Force Survey for January 2025, showing the creation of over two million jobs.
The report indicated significant growth in the agriculture, forestry, and wholesale and retail trade sectors.
Agriculture and forestry added 883,000 jobs, while the wholesale and retail trade sector created 850,000 new positions. The country’s unemployment rate decreased to 4.3% from 4.5% in January 2024.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez acknowledged the job growth, highlighting its importance for the economy. Other sectors, including construction and education, also experienced job increases.
The construction industry saw higher employment levels, in line with ongoing infrastructure development efforts. The education sector reported more available teaching and administrative positions.
The government is exploring measures to support job creation, including fostering a favorable environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promoting the digital economy.
Additionally, educational institutions are encouraged to align their curricula with evolving industry demands.
The government is also focusing on enhancing the agricultural sector through investments in technology and research to improve productivity and create more jobs.