Filipino Joblessness Rises to 6.0% in July, Over 550,000 More Unemployed

The number of jobless Filipinos surged by over 550,000 in July, pushing the unemployment rate to 6.0% from 4.9% in June, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday. This marks the highest jobless figure since December 2021. The July Labor Force Survey revealed 3.14 million unemployed Filipinos, an increase from 2.59 million in June and 2.59 million in the same month last year. The 6.0% unemployment rate is the highest in four years, matching figures from May and June 2022, and is the highest since the 6.6% recorded in December 2021 when select COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were still in place. National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa noted shifts in labor force participation, which stood at 63.6% in July, representing 52.36 million Filipinos aged 15 and over in the labor force. This rate is higher than the 60.7% recorded a year earlier but lower than the 65.1% in June, when 53.25 million Filipinos were in the labor force. "Unfortunately, hindi lahat ay naempleyo (not all were employed)," Mapa stated, highlighting that employment was lowest in the National Capital Region (NCR). Total employed Filipinos in July were 49.21 million, down from 50.66 million in June but up from 46.05 million a year ago. The employment rate was 94.0%, a decline from 95.1% in June and 94.7% last year. Year-on-year declines in employment were most significant in manufacturing, which saw its workforce drop to 3.42 million from 3.56 million. Food product manufacturing, printing-related services, and custom tailoring also experienced decreases. Other sectors showing reduced employment included information and communication (-41,000), professional, scientific and technical activities (-28,000), water supply (-9,000), and financial and insurance activities (-7,000). The Davao Region recorded the highest employment rate at 96.1%, while NCR had the lowest at 91.8%. The average hours worked by employed Filipinos in July was 40.6 hours, down from 42.0 hours last year. Approximately 59,000 or 0.12% worked exactly one hour in July, up from 41,000 or 0.09% a year ago. Furthermore, 6.33 million employed individuals, or 12.9% of the total, desired additional hours, a second job, or a new job with longer working hours. This indicates an increase in underemployment, up from 12.1% in June when 6.11 million Filipinos were underemployed, but lower than the 14.8% recorded in July 2025 when 6.80 million were underemployed. Of the total underemployed, 56.7% worked less than 40 hours a week, including those who did not work during the month. Some 43.3% worked 40 hours or more in a week. Responses for the July survey were collected from July 8 to 31, 2026, with 44,811 total sample households and 126,324 total sample individuals 15 years old and over. Source: GMA Money Philippines