Jobless Filipinos rise to 1.94 million in February

Jobless Filipinos increased in number to 1.94 million in February 2025, from 1.8 million last year, as the job market struggled to absorb over 40 percent of new job seekers.

- BY DERCO ROSAL

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the February 2025 figure reflects an increased annual unemployment rate at 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent in February 2024.

Claire Dennis S. Mapa, PSA undersecretary and national statistician, said at an April 8 press briefing that while 345,000 Filipinos joined the labor force, not all of them secured employment.

"Not all of them were absorbed into the labor market," Mapa noted, explaining that out of the new job seekers in February, "around 204,000 found employment, while 141,000 remained unemployed."

"This increase in job seekers who weren't hired contributed to the rise in the unemployment rate. More people participated, but not all were absorbed," the national statistician stressed.

Agriculture and forestry posted the largest annual job losses, shedding almost one million (949,000) jobs. This was followed by administrative and support services (201,000), and transportation and storage (158,000).

This corresponds to the country's employment rate, which declined to 96.2 percent in February from last year's 96.5 percent.

By number, Filipinos who secured jobs only increased to 49.2 million in February, from 49 million in the same month last year and 48.5 million in January 2025.

"With 49.2 million Filipinos now employed, we are seeing progress not just in numbers but in the lives of ordinary citizens," Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

Unemployment rate dropped month-on-month