The number of unemployed Filipinos rose to 3.14 million in July, pushing the country’s unemployment rate to 6 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
This is higher than the 4.9 percent unemployment rate recorded in June, when around 2.59 million Filipinos were unemployed.
The July figure also increased from the 5.3 percent unemployment rate recorded during the same month last year.
PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa said the employment rate dropped to 94 percent in July, from 95.1 percent in June.
Despite the decline in the employment rate, the number of employed Filipinos increased year-on-year, reaching 49.21 million in July from 46.05 million in July 2025.
Meanwhile, the underemployment rate improved to 12.9 percent, down from 14.8 percent in July last year and 15.2 percent in April 2026.
The sectors that posted the biggest employment gains year-on-year include agriculture and forestry, accommodation and food service activities, and wholesale and retail trade.