The Philippines’ unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June 2026, up from 4.8% in May and higher than 3.7% in June 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The latest figure translates to about 2.59 million Filipinos without jobs, higher than 2.50 million recorded in May 2026 and 1.95 million in June 2025.

Despite the uptick in unemployment, the number of employed persons increased to 50.66 million in June 2026, from 49.63 million in May and 50.47 million in June 2025. This brought the employment rate to 95.1%, slightly lower than 95.2% in May and below 96.3% a year earlier.

Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) stood at 65.1% in June 2026, equivalent to 53.25 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over who were either employed or unemployed. The figure was lower than 65.7% in June 2025 but higher than 63.8% in May 2026.

The PSA attributed the figures to changes in labor market conditions, reflecting both an increase in the labor force and a slight rise in joblessness during the period.