ILOILO City — Western Visayas added more employed workers in 2025, but the region also saw sharp increases in unemployment and underemployment, exposing growing concerns over the quality and stability of available jobs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Preliminary results of the 2025 Labor Force Survey showed that the number of employed individuals in Region 6 rose to around 2.12 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and above, higher than the 2.10 million recorded in 2024.
Despite the increase in employed individuals, the region’s unemployment rate also climbed to 3.9 percent in 2025 from 3.6 percent in 2024, while underemployment surged significantly.
Nelida Amolar, director of PSA Western Visayas, also said the region’s employment rate slightly dipped to 96.1 percent in 2025 from 96.4 percent in 2024, although it remained higher than the national employment estimate of 95.8 percent.
Data further showed that the number of unemployed individuals in Western Visayas increased to about 86,000 in 2025 from 77,000 in the previous year.
PSA Region 6 said the figures indicate that while more people are entering the labor force and finding jobs, many workers are still struggling to secure stable and sufficient employment opportunities.
The region also posted a dramatic rise in underemployment — referring to employed individuals seeking additional work or better-paying jobs — with figures jumping from 235,000 in 2024 to 364,000 in 2025, an increase of more than 129,000.
Among provinces and highly urbanized cities, Guimaras posted the highest employment rate at 97.1 percent, while Antique registered the lowest at 94.4 percent.
Four areas exceeded the regional employment average of 96.1 percent: Guimaras (97.1%), Iloilo City (96.9%), Aklan (96.8%), and Iloilo Province (96.5%).
In terms of unemployment, Antique recorded the highest unemployment rate at 5.6 percent, while Guimaras posted the lowest at 2.9 percent.
Areas with unemployment rates lower than the regional average of 3.9 percent included Guimaras (2.9%), Iloilo City (3.1%), Aklan (3.2%), and Iloilo Province (3.5%).
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), meanwhile, remained optimistic despite the worsening unemployment and underemployment figures in the region.
The agency emphasized the importance of continuing workforce development initiatives such as the Government Internship Program (GIP) and the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) to help improve employability among young workers.
PSA-6 noted that the region’s labor market remains “complex and evolving,” underscoring the need for sustainable job creation programs and long-term workforce development strategies to address the growing employment challenges in Western Visayas./PN
