Unemployment dips as typhoons weigh

The labor market showed signs of resilience in late 2025 as the unemployment rate retreated from a three-month peak, though a series of powerful typhoons tempered the recovery in key service sectors.

- BY RICARDO M. AUSTRIA

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, Jan. 7, that the jobless rate fell to 4.4 percent in November from five percent in October. The decline represents approximately 2.25 million unemployed individuals, an improvement from the 2.54 million recorded a month earlier.

Despite the monthly progress, the labor market remains tighter than a year ago, when the number of jobless Filipinos stood at 1.66 million.

National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa explained that while the headline figures improved, the year-on-year comparison revealed a workforce still grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters and shifting sectoral demands.

"Because of these typhoons, there's a slowdown in economic activities," Mapa said. "The strong typhoons that we experienced in November affected workers, especially in the labor market."