Table A-1. Key Labor and Employment Indicators 2019^f-November 2024^p

Notes:                          
^f Estimates are final                          
^p Estimates are preliminary and may change                          
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Labor Force Survey

Highlights of the November 2024 Labor Force Survey

1. In November 2024, the country’s employment rate was estimated at 96.8 percent. This was higher than the estimated employment rate of 96.4 percent in November 2023 and in October 2024 at 96.1 percent. (Table A-1)

   In terms of magnitude, the number of employed individuals in November 2024 was recorded at 49.54 million. This was lower than the estimated number of employed persons of 49.64 million in November 2023. In October 2024, the number of employed individuals was posted at 48.16 million. (Table A)

2. The unemployment rate in November 2024 was recorded at 3.2 percent. This was lower than the unemployment rate in November 2023 at 3.6 percent and in October 2024 at 3.9 percent. (Table A-1)

   In terms of levels, the number of unemployed persons in November 2024 was recorded at 1.66 million. This was lower than the number of unemployed persons of 1.83 million in November 2023 and 1.97 million in October 2024. (Table A)

3.  The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in November 2024 was estimated at 64.6 percent. This was lower than the estimated LFPR in November 2023 at 65.9 percent. In October 2024, the LFPR was estimated at 63.3 percent. (Table A-1) 

   The reported LFPR in November 2024 translates to a total of 51.20 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force, or those who were either employed or unemployed. The number of individuals aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force was 51.47 million in November 2023 and 50.12 million in October 2024. (Table A) 

4. On average, employed persons worked 41.1 hours per week. This was higher than the average hours worked in a week in November 2023 at 40.2 hours and in October 2024 at 41.0 hours per week. (Table A)

5. The underemployment rate in November 2024 decreased to 10.8 percent, from 11.7 percent in November 2023 and 12.6 percent in October 2024. (Table A-1)

   In terms of magnitude, 5.35 million of the 49.54 million employed individuals in November 2024 expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work. (Table A)

6. By broad industry group, the services sector continued as the top sector in terms of the number of employed persons with a share of 62.1 percent of the 49.54 million employed persons in November 2024. The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 20.0 percent and 17.9 percent of the employed persons, respectively. (Table 1)

   The top five sub-sectors in terms of annual increase in the number of employed persons in November 2024 were the following:

   1. Manufacturing (784 thousand); 
   2. Accommodation and food service activities (528 thousand);
   3. Human health and social work activities (303 thousand);
   4. Other service activities (239 thousand); and
   5. Transportation and storage (190 thousand).

   In contrast, the following four sub-sectors posted the highest annual decreases in the number of employed persons:

   1. Agriculture and forestry (-1.99 million);
   2. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-327 thousand);
   3. Fishing and aquaculture (-276 thousand); and
   4. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-35 thousand)

   (Table B)

   As to month-on-month changes in the number of employed persons in November 2024, the top five sub-sectors with the largest increase were the following:

   1. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (746 thousand);
   2. Accommodation and food service activities (389 thousand);
   3. Other service activities (328 thousand);
   4. Manufacturing (231 thousand); and
   5. Transportation and storage (113 thousand).

   On the other hand, the top five sub-sectors with the largest drop in the number of employed persons from October 2024 to November 2024 were the following:

   1. Agriculture and forestry (-335 thousand);
   2. Administrative and support service activities (-146 thousand);
   3. Information and communication (-53 thousand);
   4. Financial and insurance activities (-53 thousand); and
   5. Professional, scientific and technical activities (-49 thousand);

   (Table B)

7. Wage and salary workers continued to account for the largest share of employed persons with 63.8 percent of the total number of employed persons in November 2024. This was followed by self-employed persons without any paid employee at 27.8 percent and unpaid family workers at 6.6 percent. Employers in own family-operated farm or business had the lowest share of 1.8 percent. (Table 1)

   Among wage and salary workers, those employed in private establishments remained to have the highest share at 78.7 percent of the wage and salary workers or 50.2 percent of the total number of employed persons during the period. This was followed by those employed in government or government-controlled corporations with a share of 13.7 percent of the wage and salary workers or 8.7 percent of the total number of employed persons. (Table 1)

8. Youth LFPR in November 2024 decreased to 32.4 percent, from 34.4 percent reported in November 2023. Youth employment rate decreased to 90.6 percent, from 91.0 percent in November 2023. (Table A)

(Sgd.) CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, PhD        
Undersecretary        
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Labor Force Survey