Dole to boost programs for unemployed Filipinos
The Department of Labor and Employment will continue to strengthen its youth and adult employability and employment facilitation programs to provide opportunities for the unemployed.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday said it will continue to strengthen its youth and adult employability and employment facilitation programs to provide opportunities for the remaining 4 percent of the labor force who are still unemployed.
In a statement responding to the June 2025 Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Dole noted that the country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent last month, with 1.95 million individuals unemployed, down from 3.9 percent, or 2.03 million individuals, in May.
Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to 96.3 percent in June from 96.1 percent in May, reflecting that 185,000 individuals found employment within a month, according to Dole.
“This upward trend suggests a strengthening labor market driven by growth in the industry sector, specifically in the subsectors such as wholesale and retail trade, fishing and aquaculture, and construction,” Dole said.
The agency also pointed out the “significant decline” in the number of underemployed persons, which decreased by 840,000 individuals, with 5.763 million underemployed recorded in June compared to 6.603 million last May.
Dole attributed this decline to the increase in the number of full-time employment by 1.724 million month-on-month, and the decrease in the number of part-time employment by 878,000 month-on-month.
READ: Assessment of the country’s unemployment statistics
The agency said that in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to find ways and create opportunities for the remaining 4 percent who are unemployed, it will strengthen its programs “through a whole-of-nation approach anchored in convergence, innovation, and accessibility.”
Among its initiatives will be enhancing the labor market information system, such as the PhilJobNet online portal, to provide real-time, verified job postings for job seekers.
Dole will also intensify partnerships with Public Employment Service Offices, national and local government agencies, the private sector, and other partners, in order to expand the reach of job fairs and employment services in the country.
The Dole added that it will also scale up its pre-employment and internship programs, such as the Special Program for the Employment of Students and the Government Internship Program, and Jobstart Philippines, while supporting the career development needs of students and first-time job seekers.
Dole’s attached agency, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), will also heighten and expand its scholarship programs “to ensure that every Filipino family will have at least one child who completes a Tesda course to guarantee employability.”/mcm
