The number of unemployed Filipinos declined to 2.41 million in April 2026, down from 2.58 million in March, despite the ongoing energy and oil crisis.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the unemployment rate eased to 4.7% in April from 5.0% in the previous month.
However, PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted that the April jobless rate remains higher on an annual basis, compared with 4.1% recorded in April 2025.
Sectors that posted declines in employment included wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; agriculture and forestry; and fishing and aquaculture.
Mapa said rising oil prices likely contributed to job losses in the fishing sector, as higher diesel and gasoline costs led fishermen to reduce trips.
The transport sector was also affected by fuel price increases, contributing to higher underemployment.
The underemployment rate rose to 15.2% in April from 12.3% in March. This is equivalent to 7.41 million underemployed Filipinos, up from 6.03 million a month earlier.
Meanwhile, total employment reached 48.89 million in April, translating to an employment rate of 95.3%, lower than the 95.9% recorded in April 2025.
