Unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June 2026 —PSA

The unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June 2026 as the number of jobless Filipinos climbed to 2.59 million, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) Labor Force Survey released on Thursday.

In a press conference, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa presented data showing the June unemployment rate was higher than the 3.7% recorded in June 2025 with 1.95 million jobless Pinoys.

This was also higher compared to the 4.8% unemployment rate posted in May 2026 with 2.50 million unemployed Filipinos.

Despite the increase in unemployment, the country's labor force expanded to 53.25 million in June 2026 from 52.42 million in June 2025 and 52.13 million in May.

The labor force participation rate stood at 65.1%, lower than the 65.7% posted a year ago but higher than the 63.8% recorded in May.

The number of employed Filipinos reached 50.66 million in June 2026.

Meanwhile, 6.11 million employed Filipinos were classified as underemployed or those seeking additional work or longer working hours.

By sector, services continued to account for the largest share of employment at 62.7%, followed by agriculture at 20% and industry at 17.3%.

Among industry groups, accommodation and food service activities, administrative and support services, public administration and defense, education, and arts, entertainment and recreation posted the biggest year-on-year employment gains.

On the other hand, wholesale and retail trade, fishing and aquaculture, financial and insurance activities, and construction registered the largest declines in employment. —VAL, GMA News