The Philippines’ unemployment rate climbed to 4.9% in June 2026, marking an increase from 4.8% in May and a notable rise from 3.7% recorded in June 2025, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This uptick translates to approximately 2.59 million unemployed Filipinos, reflecting a jump from 2.50 million in May 2026 and 1.95 million in June 2025.
Even with the rise in joblessness, total employment expanded to 50.66 million individuals in June 2026, improving on the 49.63 million tallied in May and 50.47 million from June 2025. Consequently, the national employment rate edged down slightly to 95.1%, compared to 95.2% the previous month and 96.3% during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the country’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) reached 65.1% in June 2026, representing 53.25 million Filipinos aged 15 and above actively engaged in or seeking employment. This figure surpasses May 2026’s 63.8% rate, though it remains below the 65.7% logged in June 2025.
The PSA noted that shifting labor market conditions drove the results, as a growing labor force coincided with a slight gain in overall joblessness.