Unemployment biggest threat facing Phl – WEF

Unemployment and lack of social protection against economic shocks are seen as the biggest threats to the Philippines in the next two years, according to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report.

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

The Global Risks Report 2026 released by the WEF showed that lack of economic opportunity or unemployment was cited as the top risk for the Philippines in the next two years.

The report was based on the Executive Opinion Survey administered by the WEF between March and June 2025.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country’s unemployment rate was at 4.4 percent in November 2025, down from the previous month’s five percent, but higher than the 3.2 percent posted in November 2024.

In terms of magnitude, there were 2.25 million unemployed Filipinos in November last year, lower than the previous month’s 2.54 million, but higher than the 1.66 million jobless Filipinos in November 2024.