More Filipinos joined the ranks of the unemployed in January, with fresh labor data pointing to a softer job market after the Christmas season surge despite pockets of hiring across several industries.
Data released Friday by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s unemployment rate climbed to 5.8 percent in January 2026, up from 4.3 percent a year earlier and 5.0 percent in October 2025.
In absolute terms, the number of unemployed Filipinos reached 2.96 million, sharply higher than the 2.17 million recorded in January 2025 and the 2.54 million logged three months earlier.
The rise in joblessness came even as the country’s labor force remained broadly steady. About 50.89 million Filipinos aged 15 and above were either working or actively seeking work in January, translating to a labor force participation rate of 62.3 percent. That was slightly lower than 63.9 percent in January last year and 63.6 percent in October.
Employment also slipped to 94.2 percent from 95.7 percent a year earlier, with the number of employed workers falling to 47.94 million from 48.49 million.
Data paint a labor market adjusting after the seasonal surge in jobs during the Christmas season, particularly in retail, agriculture and construction. Wholesale and retail trade, agriculture and forestry, and construction recorded some of the biggest employment declines compared with December.
Agriculture alone shed more than 1.7 million jobs month on month, highlighting the sector’s seasonal volatility and continued structural challenges.
Services remained the backbone of the Philippine labor market, accounting for 63.6 percent of total employment. Industry and agriculture contributed 18.3 percent and 18.1 percent, respectively.
Underemployment also remained elevated. About 6.35 million workers, or 13.2 percent of the employed, said they wanted additional work hours or another job.
Taken together, the data underscores a labor market that remains resilient but uneven, with job creation concentrated in services while traditional sectors such as agriculture continue to struggle with productivity and income stability.
