Philippines Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.4 Percent in September

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the national unemployment rate rose to 5.4 percent in September 2026, leaving 2.86 million Filipinos jobless. This figure marks an increase from 5.3 percent in August 2026 and a significant rise from 3.8 percent in September 2025.

While the total number of employed Filipinos grew to 50.32 million, job creation failed to keep pace with a labor force that expanded to 53.19 million. The influx of new jobseekers was most prominent among those aged 15 to 24. Sectoral trends were mixed; accommodation and food services saw the largest annual gain with 834,000 new jobs due to pre-Christmas economic activity, while clerical support roles and contact center information clerks saw substantial declines.

The construction industry suffered the steepest losses, shedding 271,000 workers year-on-year. National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa attributed this slump to a 5.5 percent increase in building material costs and a decrease in government projects. Despite the rise in overall unemployment, the underemployment rate improved, easing to 11 percent in September from 11.9 percent in August.