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

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

Highlights of the December 2024 Labor Force Survey

1. The country’s unemployment rate in December 2024 was recorded at 3.1 percent, the same rate recorded in December 2023. In November 2024, the unemployment rate was estimated at 3.2 percent. (Table A-1)

   In terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed individuals in December 2024 was recorded at 1.63 million. This was higher than the number of unemployed persons of 1.60 million in December 2023, but lower than the number of unemployed persons recorded in November 2024 at 1.66 million. (Table A)

2. In December 2024, the employment rate was estimated at 96.9 percent, the same rate recorded in December 2023. The employment rate in November 2024 was estimated at 96.8 percent. (Table A-1)

   In terms of levels, the number of employed persons in December 2024 was recorded at 50.19 million. This was lower than the number of employed persons of 50.52 million in December 2023, but higher than the number of employed persons in November 2024 at 49.54 million. (Table A)

3. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in December 2024 was estimated at 65.1 percent, lower than the LFPR in December 2023 of 66.6 percent. In November 2024, the LFPR was estimated at 64.6 percent. (Table A-1)

   The reported LFPR in December 2024 translates to a total of 51.81 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 52.13 million in December 2023 and 51.20 million in November 2024. (Table A)

4. On average, employed persons worked 40.9 hours per week in December 2024. This was higher than the average hours worked in a week in December 2023 of 40.6 hours, but lower than the 41.1 average hours worked per week in November 2024. (Table A)

5. The underemployment rate in December 2024 decreased to 10.9 percent, from 11.9 percent in December 2023. In November 2024, the underemployment rate was recorded at 10.8 percent. (Table A-1)

   In terms of magnitude, 5.48 million of the 50.19 million employed individuals in December 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 60.5 percent of the total number of employed persons in December 2024. The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 21.3 percent and 18.3 percent of the total number of employed persons, respectively. (Table 1)

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

   1. Transportation and storage (555 thousand); 
   2. Construction (263 thousand);
   3. Administrative and support service activities (223 thousand);
   4. Public administration and defense; compulsory social security (211 thousand); and
   5. Human health and social work activities (197 thousand).

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

   1. Agriculture and forestry (-1.56 million);
   2. Manufacturing (-387 thousand);
   3. Other service activities (-166 thousand); and
   4. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-106 thousand).

   (Table B)

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

   1. Agriculture and forestry (735 thousand);
   2. Construction (583 thousand);
   3. Public administration and defense; compulsory social security (307 thousand);
   4. Transportation and storage (184 thousand); and
   5. Financial and insurance activities (96 thousand).

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

   1. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-391 thousand);
   2. Manufacturing (-305 thousand);
   3. Other service activities (-288 thousand);
   4. Accommodation and food service activities (-219 thousand); and
   5. Administrative and support service activities (-114 thousand);

   (Table B)

7. Wage and salary workers continued to account for the largest share of employed persons with 63.1 percent of the total number of employed persons in December 2024. This was followed by self-employed persons without any paid employee at 28.5 percent and unpaid family workers at 6.8 percent. Employers in own family-operated farm or business had the lowest share of 1.6 percent. (Table 1)

   Among wage and salary workers, those employed in private establishments remained to have the highest share of 78.9 percent of the total number of wage and salary workers or 49.8 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 14.4 percent of the total number of wage and salary workers or 9.1 percent of the total number of employed persons. (Table 1)

8. Youth LFPR in December 2024 decreased to 31.9 percent, from 34.5 percent in December 2023. Youth employment rate decreased to 90.9 percent, from 91.8 percent in December 2023. (Table A)

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

See more at the Labor Force Survey