MANILA - The Philippines’ unemployment rate went up slightly in June, while the underemployment rate fell slightly, the Philippine Statistics Authority said on Thursday.
The PSA said the jobless rate was 4.9 percent in June, up from 4.8 percent in May, and 3.7 percent in June 2025. This meant that 2.59 million Filipino workers were unemployed during the month.
Meanwhile, the underemployment rate—a key indicator of job quality—slid to 12.1 percent in June from 12.2 percent in May. This meant that 6.11 million workers were underemployed in June.
Workers who already have jobs, but are still looking for extra jobs or additional work-hours are classified by the PSA as underemployed.
The PSA noted that the overall employed population still grew from 49.63 million the previous month, fueled by a rising labor force participation rate of 65.1 percent, which translates to 53.25 million active workers.
The services sector continued to drive the domestic job market, absorbing 62.7 percent of the workforce. Accommodation, food services, and administrative support spearheaded annual job creation. In contrast, retail and wholesale trade suffered the steepest year-on-year losses, shedding 903,000 workers, year-on-year.
The youth labor market also faced notable pressure. While more young Filipinos entered the workforce, the employment rate for those aged 15 to 24 dropped to 86.5 percent, down significantly from 90.6 percent recorded in June of the previous year.