The number of employed Filipinos increased to 48.49 million in January from 45.9 million in the same month last year, with the agriculture, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality sectors as the top employers.

The Philippine Statistics Authority on Thursday reported the employment rate grew to 95.7 percent from 95.5 percent year-on-year.

Similarly, the annual growth in the unemployment rate slightly improved to 4.3 percent from 4.5 percent, representing 2.16 million jobless Filipinos. However, the jobless rate in January was higher than the 3.1 percent in December last year.

“There was higher demand for workers because of the Christmas season. We also see a high employment rate during October because of the start of the holiday season,” Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia del Prado said.

Year-on-year, most Filipinos found jobs in agriculture, with 883,000 more workers. This was followed by the wholesale and retail trade and automobile repair which employed 850,000 more Filipinos. Accommodation and food services posted 533,000 new workers.

“Agricultural workers increased in January as more people were needed to plant new crops after the harvest season in the last quarter. We saw more farmers for vegetables, melon, tubers, and sugarcane,” Del Prado said.

However, the manufacturing sector saw the largest contraction of the workforce at 209,000. This was followed by professional, scientific and technical services which had 58,000 fewer workers. Meanwhile, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry posted 29,000 less workers.

“The decline in manufacturing workers reflected weaker global demand for consumer electronics, such as bulbs and baking tools,” Del Prado said.