More jobless Filipino, seeking additional work in March - PSA

Metro Manila, Philippines - Government data showed more Filipinos were jobless while those seeking additional work also increased month-on-month in March.

In a briefing on Wednesday, May 7, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the unemployment rate inched up to 3.9 percent in March from 3.8 percent in February.

This translated to 1.93 million jobless Filipinos, but slightly lower than the 1.94 million recorded the month prior.

The employment rate was at 96.1 percent in March from 96.2 percent.

Around 48.02 million Filipinos had work from 49.15 million in February.

“Itong March 2025, nakita namin na substantial ang nag-decide na bumalik sa school, ibig sabihin baka finore-go muna ang opportunity sa labor market at kinontinue ang studies,” National Statistician Dennis Mapa said of the lower labor participation rate.

“Pangalawa ‘yong household, family duties, ito naman palagi, particular sa entrepreneur, substantial din ang increase,” Mapa said.

[Translation: We saw a substantial increase of those going back to school in March 2025, meaning foregoing the opportunity from the labor market to continue their studies. Second, there was a substantial increase from those saying they have household and family duties, particularly from entrepreneurs.]

Two major contributors to year-on-year declines in employment were agriculture and forestry and public administration and defense; compulsory social security.

“Itong March alam ko doon din may ban on hiring sa government positions. Ito ay sa tingin namin may impact sa pag-reduce ng employed persons, particularly sa public administration and defense; compulsory social security,” Mapa said.

“‘Yong ban matatapos right after the elections, babalik naman siguro, ‘yong hiring medyo na-delay,” he said.

[Translation: We know in March there was a hiring ban in government positions. We see this having an impact in the reduction of employed persons, particularly in the public administration and defense; compulsory social security. The ban will end right after the elections, so we think there will be more people employed, the hiring might be delayed.]

The underemployment rate was 13.4 percent in March from 10.1 percent in February.

This meant 6.44 million of the 48.02 million employed Filipinos in March looked for additional working hours.

Mapa said the increases in underemployed workers were “spread” to sectors including construction, wholesale and retail trade, public administration and defense; compulsory social security, other service activities, and administrative and support service activities.

Administrative and support service activities, education, manufacturing, and information and communication were the industries with the largest month-on-month increases in employment.

Construction, wholesale and retail trade, other service activities, fishing and aquaculture, and public administration and defense; compulsory social security saw the largest month-on-month drop in employment.