2026.01.0702:14:43UTC+00Philippines Jobless Rate Rises to 4.4% in November

In November 2025, the unemployment rate in the Philippines increased to 4.4%, up from 3.2% in the same month the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals rose to 2.25 million, compared to 1.66 million in November 2024. Meanwhile, total employment numbers slightly decreased, registering at 49.26 million versus 49.54 million the previous year. However, compared to October, the unemployment rate dropped from 5%, a change likely attributed to seasonal hiring trends. The services sector continues to be the largest employer, encompassing 62.1% of the employed population, followed by the agriculture sector at 20.0% and industry at 17.9%. The labor market was also affected by the adverse impacts of Typhoons Tino and Uwan, which particularly disrupted activities in accommodation and food services, as well as wholesale and retail trade sectors. Additionally, the labor force participation rate slightly declined to 64.0% from 64.6%, signifying a decrease in the number of Filipinos aged 15 and above who are actively participating in the labor market. On average, those employed worked 40.4 hours each week, a slight reduction from the 41.1 hours observed a year earlier.