By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, A reporter
PHILIPPINES UnderemThe employment rate rose to an almost three-year high in April, as unemployment fell to its lowest level in four months, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The latest Labor Force Survey by PSA showed that the unemployment rate rose to 15.2% in April 2026, up from 14.6% in the same month last year and 12.3% in March 2026.
The National Statistician, Claire Dennis S. Mapa, said the unemployment rate of 15.2% is the highest since July 2023.
The number of unemployed Filipinos – those looking for longer working hours or more work – rose to 7.41 million in April from 7.081 million in the same month last year and from 6.031 million in March.
Mr. Mapa said that the lack of job opportunities is evident in the transport and storage sector, especially for drivers of jeepneys, taxis, buses and emergency services. Drivers may be forced to cut their working hours due to rising pump prices since the US-Iran war began in late February.
The unemployment rate reached 13.12% in the first four months, up from 12.85% in the same period last year.
Average weekly hours worked by an employed person increased to 40.2 hours in April from 39.9 hours in April 2025 but decreased from 40.7 hours in March.
“Filipinos are looking for more work to cope with the rising cost of living. Some job seekers may have accepted part-time or low wages to earn income. At the same time, firms may reduce working hours to manage higher labor costs, prompting workers to seek more work to make up for lost wages,” Chinabank Research said in a separate report.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to 4.7% in April from 4.1% in the same month last year but fell from 5% in March. This was the lowest unemployment rate in four months or since 4.4% in December 2025.
The number of unemployed Filipinos was estimated at 2.41 million in April, 351,000 more than the 2.06 million recorded last year.
PSA data showed more trading and selling; auto and motorcycle repair posted the largest annual decline in April jobs by 450,000, followed by agriculture and forestry by 392,000.
Mr. Mapa noted that the year-on-year increase in unemployment is mainly driven by job seekers aged 15-24 and 25-34.
“The reason for the increase in unemployed people every year is that they really wanted a job but couldn’t find it,” said Mr. results of job applications.
In the first four months of the year, the unemployment rate reached 5.15%, up from 4.02% last year.
The labor force participation rate (LFPR) fell to 62.7% in April from 63.7% last year and 63.3% in March. This equated to 51.3 million Filipinos aged 15 and older who were part of the labor force, up from a little over 50.74 million last year.
For youth aged 15 to 24, the LFPR stood at 31.8% in April, unchanged from last year.
The number of youth who are not in education, employment, or training rose to 2.64 million in April, making up 12.2% of the youth population compared to 10.6% last year.
CHALLENGES
In a statement, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the government is working to increase market access and attractclothing in emerging industries.
“The latest labor market indicators reflect both the challenges facing the economy and Fili’s sustainabilitypino workers and businesses,” he said
Mr. Balisacan said the government is monitoring the employment impact of the Middle East crisis, El Niño weather, and the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.
“We are committed to providing timely assistance to affected workers and households,” he said.
The employment rate in April stood at 95.3%, lower than the 95.9% posted in April 2025 but above 95% in March.
The number of employed Filipinos increased to 48.89 million in April from 48.67 million a year earlier. However, this figure is less than the 49.07 million employed in March.
The average employment rate in the first four months fell to 94.85% from 95.97% a year ago.
The industries that increased the most year over year were accommodation and food services 510,000, construction 259,000, transportation and warehousing 189,000, mining and minerals 158,000 and education 107,000.
Regional data also showed that Davao Region posted the highest employment rate at 97.5% in April, while Bicol Region had the lowest at 93.2%.
Chinabank Research said the Philippines’ labor market remains strong despite the impact of the Middle East war and slower government infrastructure spending but added that unemployment may remain high.
“Looking ahead, unemployment is likely to remain high in the near term as households and businesses continue to struggle with inflation,” he said, adding that the unemployment rate tends to rise during times of inflation.
Apart from the transport sector, Chinabank Research said the lack of job opportunities also increased in manufacturing, accommodation and food services.
“Notably, these sectors were the main drivers of overall job growth, suggesting that many of the jobs generated in April may provide insufficient or unstable income. The construction sector also saw an increase in the number of unemployed workers, possibly reflecting delays in public infrastructure projects,” he said.
Chinabank Research also noted that jobs in the trade and retail sector fell to 10th a straight month, reflecting sluggish consumer confidence.
It said the agricultural sector saw a sixth consecutive month of decline in activity in April, amid limited fertilizer availability and higher fuel costs, and may face challenges from El Niño.
Professor Benjamin B. Velasco said the high unemployment rate shows a labor market that is unable to adapt to economic conditions.
“Our economy is unsustainable as shown by the massive loss of jobs in the trade, which easily takes away the remaining workers as this sector requires low skills and education so wages are cheap and jobs are insecure,” said Mr. Velasco told. BusinessWorld in a Facebook chat.
He noted that the unemployment rate in the Philippines is three times the unemployment rate, as many Filipinos cannot find stable jobs and get part-time jobs.
IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Afrika said job insecurity is getting worse amid the impact of the oil shock.
