Arthur Fuentes

Workers are seen at the Precast Concrete Yard in Santa Rosa, Laguna on June 13, 2024. The factory is in full swing as they produce concrete parts which will then be assembled to finish the South Commuter Railways Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Construction

Benise Balaoing

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippines&#x27; unemployment and underemployment rates fell in February, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday. The PSA said the country&#x27;s jobless rate was 5.1 percent in February, which was lower than the 5.8 percent clip in January. This means that 2.66 million workers did not have a job that month. National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Usec. Claire Dennis Mapa explained that the decline in unemployment month-on-month was due to seasonality, as many firms wind down jobs after the holidays in January, but job openings recover by February.“Normally after the holidays syempre nagbabawas siguro ng mga employment doon sa mga seasonal work, and then babalik sila ulit months after January,” Mapa said.The services sector continued to lead employment, followed by industry and agriculture. Mapa cited the call center industry in particular as having boosted hiring during the month.Other industries that saw jobs growth include the transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities, financial and insurance activities industries.The underemployment rate, meanwhile, also fell to 11.8 percent in February from 13.2 percent in January. This means that 5.84 million workers were underemployed that month. The PSA says workers who already have jobs but are still looking for extra jobs or extra work hours are considered underemployed. Mapa, however, also said that global headwinds, including volatile oil prices fueled by Middle East tensions, threaten to impact domestic inflation and future hiring.The data were gathered before the outbreak of war in the Middle East.“Kung titingnan natin yung first 2 months, January and February nung 2026, vs January and February nung 2025, medyo tumaas yung ating unemployed persons. Yung ating average unemployed persons nitong first 2 months of 2026 ay umabot na ng 2.8 million, kumpara noong same period 2025 na nasa 2.05 billion,” he said.“So first 2 months, year-on-year comparison, hindi maganda,” Mapa noted.Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan acknowledged the risks.“We must ensure that our policies and programs respond effectively to rapidly changing global conditions, especially for affected and displaced Filipino workers here and abroad,” he said.

The country saw lower unemployment and underemployment rates in February compared to January, the state statistics bureau reported.

The country saw lower unemployment and underemployment rates in February compared to January, the state statistics bureau reported.

Unemployment, underemployment rates fall in February

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Unemployment, underemployment rates fall in February

Arthur Fuentes,

Benise Balaoing,

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 08, 2026 09:12 AM PHT

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Updated April 08, 2026 12:57 PM PHT

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Unemployment rate

jobless rate

underemployment

labor force

PSA

economy

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