Philippine unemployment rate climbs to 5.4% in September, with 2.86 million jobless

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 06, 2026

Photo Courtesy: HRM Asia

The number of unemployed Filipinos increased in September 2026, with the country’s jobless rate rising to 5.4 percent from 5.3 percent in August, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The latest Labor Force Survey estimated that around 2.86 million Filipinos were unemployed during the month, up from 2.77 million in August and significantly higher than the 1.96 million recorded in September last year.

Despite the increase in unemployment, the number of employed Filipinos reached 50.32 million, compared with 49.79 million in August and 49.60 million in September 2025.

However, the employment rate slipped to 94.6 percent from 94.7 percent in the previous month and 96.2 percent a year earlier.

The construction industry recorded the largest month-on-month decline in employment, losing approximately 416,000 workers between August and September.

Meanwhile, wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, posted the biggest employment gain during the same period, adding around 546,000 workers.

The PSA also reported that the underemployment rate eased to 11 percent from 11.9 percent in August. This represents approximately 5.56 million employed Filipinos who wanted additional working hours or another job to increase their income.

The country’s labor force participation rate stood at 64.5 percent, representing around 53.19 million Filipinos aged 15 and above who were either employed or actively seeking work.

The latest figures highlight the continuing challenges in the Philippine labor market, as the number of people without jobs increased despite growth in overall employment.