Table A-1. Key Labor and Employment Indicators 2019f-September 2024p
| Philippines | Labor Force Participation Rate (%) | Employment Rate (%) | Underemployment Rate (%) | Unemployment Rate (%) |
| 2019f | 61.3 | 94.9 | 13.8 | 5.1 |
| 2020f | 59.5 | 89.7 | 16.2 | 10.3 |
| 2021f | 63.3 | 92.2 | 15.9 | 7.8 |
| 2022f | 64.7 | 94.6 | 14.2 | 5.4 |
| 2023p | 64.9 | 95.6 | 12.3 | 4.4 |
| Januaryf | 64.5 | 95.2 | 14.1 | 4.8 |
| Februaryf | 66.6 | 95.2 | 12.9 | 4.8 |
| Marchf | 66.0 | 95.3 | 11.2 | 4.7 |
| Aprilf | 65.1 | 95.5 | 12.9 | 4.5 |
| Mayf | 65.3 | 95.7 | 11.7 | 4.3 |
| Junef | 66.1 | 95.5 | 12.0 | 4.5 |
| Julyf | 60.0 | 95.1 | 15.9 | 4.9 |
| Augustf | 64.7 | 95.6 | 11.7 | 4.4 |
| Septemberf | 64.1 | 95.5 | 10.7 | 4.5 |
| Octoberp | 63.9 | 95.8 | 11.7 | 4.2 |
| Novemberp | 65.9 | 96.4 | 11.7 | 3.6 |
| Decemberp | 66.6 | 96.9 | 11.9 | 3.1 |
| 2024p | 64.5 | 96.0 | 12.1 | 4.0 |
| Januaryp | 61.1 | 95.5 | 13.9 | 4.5 |
| Februaryp | 64.8 | 96.5 | 12.4 | 3.5 |
| Marchp | 65.3 | 96.1 | 11.0 | 3.9 |
| Aprilp | 64.1 | 96.0 | 14.6 | 4.0 |
| Mayp | 64.8 | 95.9 | 9.9 | 4.1 |
| Junep | 66.0 | 96.9 | 12.1 | 3.1 |
| Julyp | 63.5 | 95.3 | 12.1 | 4.7 |
| Augustp | 64.8 | 96.0 | 11.2 | 4.0 |
| Septemberp | 65.7 | 96.3 | 11.9 | 3.7 |
Notes:
f Estimates are final
p Estimates are preliminary and may change
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, Labor Force Survey
Highlights of the September 2024 Labor Force Survey
In September 2024, the unemployment rate was posted at 3.7 percent. This was lower than the unemployment rate estimated in September 2023 at 4.5 percent and in August 2024 at 4.0 percent. (Table A-1)
In terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed individuals in September 2024 was posted at 1.89 million. This was lower than the estimated number of unemployed persons of 2.26 million in September 2023 and 2.07 million in August 2024. (Table A)
The employment rate in September 2024 increased to 96.3 percent, from 95.5 percent in September 2023 and 96.0 percent in August 2024. (Table A-1)
In terms of levels, the number of employed persons in September 2024 was recorded at 49.87 million. This was higher than the number of employed persons of 47.67 million in September 2023 and 49.15 million in August 2024. (Table A)
The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in September 2024 was estimated at 65.7 percent. This was higher than the estimated LFPR in September 2023 at 64.1 percent. In August 2024, the LFPR was estimated at 64.8 percent. (Table A-1)
The reported LFPR in September 2024 translates to a total of 51.77 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 49.93 million in September 2023 and 51.22 million in August 2024. (Table A)
On average, employed persons worked 40.3 hours per week. This was lower than the average hours worked in a week in September 2023 at 40.8 hours and in August 2024 at 40.7 hours per week. (Table A)
The underemployment rate in September 2024 increased to 11.9 percent, from 10.7 percent in September 2023 and 11.2 percent in August 2024. (Table A-1)
In terms of magnitude, 5.94 million of the 49.87 million employed individuals in September 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)
By broad industry group, the services sector continued as the top sector in terms of the number of employed persons with a share of 62.8 percent of the 49.87 million employed persons in September 2024. The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 19.9 percent and 17.4 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 September 2024 were the following:
- Administrative and support service activities (735 thousand);
- Other service activities (559 thousand);
- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (486 thousand);
- Public administration and defense; compulsory social security (333 thousand); and
- Manufacturing (200 thousand).
In contrast, the following five sub-sectors posted the highest annual decreases in the number of employed persons:
- Accommodation and food service activities (-242 thousand);
- Agriculture and forestry (-210 thousand);
- Fishing and aquaculture (-136 thousand);
- Construction (-87 thousand); and
- Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-83 thousand);
(Table B)
As to month-on-month changes in the number of employed persons in September 2024, the top five sub-sectors with the largest increase were the following:
- Administrative and support service activities (642 thousand);
- Manufacturing (357 thousand);
- Agriculture and forestry (294 thousand);
- Other service activities (235 thousand); and
- Fishing and aquaculture (129 thousand).
On the other hand, the top five sub-sectors with the largest drop in the number of employed persons from August 2024 to September 2024 were the following:
- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-597 thousand);
- Construction (-284 thousand);
- Human health and social work activities (-177 thousand);
- Accommodation and food service activities (-173 thousand); and
- Public administration and defense; compulsory social security (-125 thousand);
(Table B)
Wage and salary workers continued to account for the largest share of employed persons with 63.9 percent of the total number of employed persons in September 2024. This was followed by self-employed persons without any paid employee at 27.4 percent and unpaid family workers at 6.6 percent. Employers in own family-operated farm or business had the lowest share of 2.1 percent. (Table 1)
Among wage and salary workers, those employed in private establishments remained to have the highest share at 76.6 percent of the wage and salary workers or 49.0 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 14.9 percent of the wage and salary workers or 9.5 percent of the total number of employed persons. (Table 1)
Youth LFPR increased to 33.9 percent, from 33.1 percent reported in September 2023 and 33.2 percent in August 2024. Youth employment rate increased to 90.0 percent, from 86.9 percent in September 2023 and 88.0 percent in August 2024. (Table A)
(Sgd.) CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, PhD
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General
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