Labor & Employment · DOLE / PSA Data
Philippine Labor Statistics 2026
Official employment data from DOLE and PSA — unemployment trends, minimum wages by region, sector breakdown, and the laws protecting Filipino workers.
Source: PSA Labor Force Survey Q1 2025 · DOLE Annual Report 2024 · Last updated: May 2026
Unemployment rate over time
Unemployment spiked to 10.3% in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdowns — the highest in Philippine recorded history. Recovery has been steady, reaching 4.5% in early 2025, below pre-pandemic levels.
PSA Labor Force Survey 2015–2025
Under the Labor Code (PD 442), employers who lay off workers due to redundancy must give 30 days written notice AND pay separation pay of at least 1 month salary per year of service. Retrenchment requires proof of business losses and DOLE notification.
Minimum wage by region (2025)
Minimum wages are set per region by Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs). NCR workers earn ₱610/day — nearly double the BARMM rate of ₱350/day.
NWPC Regional Minimum Wage Orders 2025
Paying below the regional minimum wage is a criminal offense under RA 6727 (Wage Rationalization Act). Workers can file complaints directly at DOLE regional offices. Employers may not use allowances, bonuses, or benefits to offset minimum wage — base pay must meet the floor.
Employment by sector
Services dominates at 57.8% of employed Filipinos — driven by BPO, retail, hospitality, and government work. Agriculture still employs 22.4% despite contributing only ~9% of GDP.
PSA Labor Force Survey 2023
Formal vs. informal employment
Over half of Filipino workers are in the informal economy — no employment contract, no SSS, no PhilHealth, no Pag-IBIG. COVID-19 briefly pushed more workers into informality; recovery has been gradual.
PSA Informal Sector Survey 2019–2023
Informal workers can voluntarily enroll in SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG as self-employed or non-employed members. Under RA 11199 (SSS Act of 2018), mandatory SSS coverage extends to all self-employed persons earning income — including freelancers and gig workers.
DOLE labor violations (2023)
Wage underpayment and non-payment of mandatory benefits are the most common violations DOLE encounters. Workers may file complaints for free at any DOLE regional or field office.
DOLE Bureau of Working Conditions Report 2023
Occupational injuries and fatalities
DOLE Bureau of Working Conditions OSH Report 2019–2023
Under RA 11058 (Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law), employers with 10+ workers must appoint a safety officer and maintain a safety committee. Employers are liable for workers' compensation for work-related injuries under PD 626 (Employees' Compensation Program).
Know your rights as a worker
Right to minimum wage — regional floor set by RTWPB (RA 6727)
Right to 13th month pay — mandatory for all rank-and-file employees (PD 851)
Right to overtime pay — 125% of hourly rate for work beyond 8 hours
Right to 5 days Service Incentive Leave (SIL) per year after 1 year of service
Right to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG enrollment — employer must remit contributions
Right to due process before termination — written notice + hearing required (Labor Code Art. 292)
Right to separation pay for authorized cause terminations (at least ½ month per year of service)