The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday that both unemployment and underemployment rates increased in January 2026, indicating weaker labor market conditions at the start of the year.
Data from the PSA showed the country’s unemployment rate rose to 5.8% from 4.4% in December. This translates to about 2.96 million jobless Filipinos, up from 2.26 million in the previous month.
Meanwhile, underemployment also climbed sharply to 13.2% from 8% in December. This means around 6.35 million workers were seeking additional jobs or longer working hours, compared to 3.93 million previously.
The PSA explained that underemployment refers to workers who already have jobs but continue to look for extra employment or extended working hours to better meet their financial needs.