The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that the PSA Board approved the conceptual and operational definitions of the informal sector and informal employment during its 41st meeting on Nov. 27, 2025.
The adoption of these definitions addresses the challenges faced by workers in the informal economy, who are often characterized by high degrees of vulnerability, job insecurity and limited access to social protection.
Accurate and timely statistics are crucial for monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes inclusive economic growth and decent work for all. The new definitions specifically support SDG Indicator 8.3.1, which measures the proportion of informal employment in total employment by sector and sex. This data will guide the development of evidence-based government policies and programs to address the consequences of informality.
The definitions resulted from a collaboration among the PSA, the Technical Working Group on Informal Employment Statistics and the Interagency Committee on Labor and Productivity Statistics. Following the board’s approval, the PSA is tasked with collecting, compiling and disseminating official statistics on these categories through the Labor Force Survey.
