Manila: The Marcos Jr. administration is poised to enhance job quality and address persistent labor market challenges through the implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, as announced by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DEPDev made this assurance following the release of preliminary results from the latest Labor Force Survey. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated a slight decrease in the number of jobless Filipinos, from 1.94 million in February to 1.93 million in March, translating to an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent. However, National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted a decline in both labor force and employment levels by about 1.2 million, resulting in a labor force participation rate of 62.9 percent in March 2025, down from 65.3 percent the previous year. Schooling and household responsibilities were cited as primary reasons for individuals not actively seeking employment.
The country’s underemployment rate increased to 13.4 percent in March from 11 percent the previous year, equating to approximately 6.44 million Filipino workers seeking additional hours, a second job, or a new job with longer working hours. DEPDev Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, Rosemarie Edillon, emphasized the importance of the TPB Plan, stating, “The launch of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan is both timely and essential. The latest employment figures highlight the need for a comprehensive set of interventions to increase investments, encourage technology adoption, improve job satisfaction and employment quality.”
The TPB Plan, launched on Monday, is the country’s first 10-year Labor Market Development Plan, providing a long-term strategic framework for job creation, labor market transformation, and inclusive workforce development. It includes the promotion of lifelong learning and the implementation of accelerated learning pathways, such as micro-credentials, to address underemployment and skills mismatches. “The TPB Plan will serve as our strategic roadmap toward building resilient employment, fostering competitive enterprises, and preparing a future-ready workforce,” Edillon added.
The private sector is expected to play a crucial role under the TPB Plan in strengthening curriculum development, enhancing training delivery, and supporting job placement programs. The Plan also highlights the significance of establishing a national policy on lifelong learning to define clear standards, action components, and success indicators for continuous learning across educational institutions and professional settings.
In response to the growing demand for specialized skills, the government, through the TPB Plan, is expanding access to upskilling and reskilling opportunities for Filipino workers. These initiatives aim to address skills shortages and align the Philippine labor market with global workforce standards. The government also plans to boost investments in high-impact priority sectors, foster innovation, and accelerate technology adoption.
Additionally, the government will implement the Program Convergence Budgeting, a mechanism designed to strengthen the alignment of planning, programming, and budgeting processes to ensure adequate funding for priority programs and projects. To encourage greater labor force participation, Edillon emphasized the need to promote inclusive and flexible work arrangements.
The Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act, enabling professionals to earn a college degree through a comprehensive, competency-based assessment, will also provide lifelong learning and new pathways for career advancement. “Our collective task now is to translate this Plan into concrete action – guided by data, informed by social dialogue, and driven by a shared purpose. Through our unified effort, we aim to create an inclusive, efficient, and dynamic labor market where Filipinos can access meaningful, quality employment that supports a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay,” Edillon concluded.
