Unemployment, underemployment rates ease in November 2025

MANILA, January 10 ------ The Philippines' unemployment and underemployment rates eased in November 2025 compared to October, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. However, compared to November 2024, the jobless rate as well as the total number of unemployed workers actually increased.

The PSA said the jobless rate was seen at 4.4 percent of the labor force in November, which was lower than the 5 percent clip seen in October. This meant that 2.25 million workers were jobless that month. PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the underemployment rate also eased to 10.4 percent in November last year from 12 percent in October. This meant that 5.11 million workers were underemployed.

The PSA classifies the underemployed as workers who already have jobs but are still looking for extra jobs or extra work hours. But the PSA also noted that compared to the 3.2 percent jobless rate in November 2024, the unemployment rate in November 2025 was actually higher. The number of jobless workers also rose from 1.66 million in November 2024. Mapa said the two strong typhoons, Tino and Uwan, which hit the country in November last year, had a big effect on the country's accommodation and food service, as well as wholesale and retail trade sectors. “Ang reading namin is that because of this typhoon, nagkaroon ng slowdown in economic activities related to tourism, doon sa accommodation services at of course yung sa retail trade,” Mapa said.

On an annual basis, these two sectors caused job losses totaling 567,000. The PSA also noted that jobs in construction increased month-on-month by 143,000. “We were looking at the numbers ng construction industry…ng July to November para makita natin yung effect nung current investigations sa flood control, nag-increase yan ng mga 203,000, July to November 2025 vs. July to November 2024,” Mapa noted.

Growth slowed in the third quarter of 2025 as the government put the brakes on infrastructure spending amid the flood control mess. The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the government will continue to work to make businesses more resilient as bad weather continues to hurt workforce numbers. “The government will actively support establishments in developing and implementing Business Continuity and Resiliency Plans,” DEPDev said.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com