The unemployment rate in the Philippines declined in April to 4 percent from 4.5 percent in the year-ago period, with the economy creating more jobs in industry and services to take up the slack in agriculture because of the adverse impact of El Nino on the farm sector.
Data released Thursday by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the number of employed persons in April rose to 48.4 million from 48.1 million in April 2023 but down from the total 49.2 million record in March.
Employment in agriculture totalled 9.82 million in April, down from 10.1 million March and 10.5 million in April last year. Agriculture continues to account for one in every five jobs, still higher than industry that accounted for 8.9 million jobs in April, flat from March but higher than the 8.2 million in April last year.
Services, which account for six of every 10 jobs, employed 29.7 million in April, down from 30.2 million in March but up from the 29.3 million in April last year.
In terms of magnitude, jobless Filipinos in April total 2.04 million, up slightly from 2.0 million March but down from 2.26 million in April last year. Total workforce in April was estimated at 50.4 million.
