More Filipinos find work, but jobless rate still climbs to 4.9%

MANILA, Philippines — Unemployment rose to 2.59 million in June as the expansion of the labor force outpaced job growth, pushing the jobless rate to 4.9% despite an increase in employed Filipinos.

The unemployment rate edged up from 4.8% in May and 3.7% in June 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Thursday, August 6.

The labor force grew to 53.25 million from 52.13 million in May and 52.42 million a year earlier. The labor force participation rate climbed to 65.1% from 63.8% in May.

Employment also rises

The number of employed Filipinos increased to 50.66 million from 49.63 million in May and 50.47 million in June 2025.

Services accounted for 62.7% of employment, followed by agriculture at 20% and industry at 17.3%.

Wage and salary workers made up 64.1% of employed Filipinos, while 26.9% were self-employed without paid workers. Unpaid family workers accounted for 7.4%, while employers in family-operated farms or businesses comprised 1.6%.

Underemployment eases. Underemployment eased to 12.1% from 12.2% in May but remained above the 11.4% recorded a year earlier.

This meant 6.11 million employed Filipinos wanted additional work or longer hours. Workers logged an average of 40.6 hours a week in June, according to the state data agency. — Renalyn Ramirez