Malacañang announced Tuesday that the government surpassed its employment and poverty-reduction targets in 2025, with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. directing further reforms in public fund use, particularly for flood control and climate resilience projects.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos presided over the 7th Economic and Development Council (EDC) meeting, where the economic team reported stronger labor market outcomes and sustained poverty reduction.
Unemployment fell from 10.3% in 2020 to 4.7% in 2025, signaling more stable jobs for Filipinos.
“Ibig sabihin nito ay dumarami na ang mga kababayan nating may disenteng trabaho,” Castro noted.
Underemployment also dropped from 16.2% in 2020 to 13.6% in 2025, reflecting improved job quality and better skills matching.
The economic team reaffirmed its commitment to create more quality jobs and reduce poverty incidence to single-digit levels by 2028.
Data showed 2.4 million fewer Filipinos lived in poverty between 2021 and 2023, with the number of poor declining to 17.5 million in 2023 from 19.9 million in 2021.
Castro added that inflation remains manageable, providing a stable environment for growth and household spending.