Philippine unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent in June, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Data from the PSA showed that 2.59 million Filipinos were jobless in June which is higher than the 4.8 percent unemployment rate representing 2.50 million recorded in May.

The PSA also noted that the unemployment rate in June remained higher than the 3.7 percent recorded in June 2025 which is equivalent to the 1.95 million jobless Filipinos.

However, the employment rate in June was recorded at 95.1 percent, lower than the June 2025 employment rate of 96.3 percent and in May, employment rate posted at 95.2 percent.

"In terms of levels, the number of employed persons in June 2026 was 50.66 million, an increase from 50.47 million employed in June 2025 and from 49.63 million in May 2026," the PSA stated.

The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in June was recorded at 65.1 percent, which is also lower than the 65.7 percent registered in June 2025 but higher than the 63.8 percent observed in May..

"The June 2026 LFPR translates to a total of 53.25 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over who were in the labor force," said PSA.

"In comparison, the labor force population stood at 52.42 million in June 2025 and 52.13 million in May 2026," it added. Robina Asido/PHS