Unemployment drops to 3.9%, LFPR hits record high of 65.8%

The number of unemployed Filipinos decreased to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April and 2.11 million a year earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa reported that the unemployment rate dropped to 3.9% in May 2025, down from 4.1% in both April and May of last year, attributing the decline to substantial growth in the ranks of Filipinos aged 15 years and older who entered the labor force.

The labor force participation rate (LFPR) rose to a record high of 65.8 percent, with a total of 52.32 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over entering the labor market.

Employment increased across various sectors including agriculture and forestry (+469,000), accommodation and food service activities (+365,000), administrative and support service activities (+371,000), wholesale and retail trade (+489,000), and other service activities (+175,000).

The underemployment rate settled at 13.1 percent, translating to 6.60 million employed individuals who expressed the desire for additional hours of work or a new job with longer hours.

DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan welcomed the latest job numbers and noted that efforts will be intensified to equip Filipinos with in-demand skills and competencies to remain agile amid a competitive labor market.