Labor group calls Marcos 'out of touch' after unemployment climb

A labor group criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s economic policies after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported higher unemployment and underemployment rates in April.

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said in a message that the administration’s priorities are misaligned and its actions have resulted in the “worsening” of unemployment and underemployment rates.

“The constant rise in unemployment is not merely a ‘skills mismatch’ issue — it is a direct consequence of a stagnant agriculture and industrial sector, which should be vital sources of sustainable jobs,” KMP Chairman Danilo Ramos said.

PSA said Friday that the unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in April 2025 from 4.0 percent in April last year, while underemployment remained the same at 14.6 percent.

The latest unemployment data, covering individuals aged 15 and above, translates to at least 2.06 million jobless Filipinos — slightly higher than the 2.04 million recorded in the same period last year.

In response to the statistical data, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) showed the resiliency of the Philippine economy despite the ongoing global issues.

“We remain on track to meet our target unemployment range of 4.4 percent to 4.7 percent set under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” DEPDev officer-in-charge Rosemarie Edillon said.

The peasant group also mentioned that the latest statistical data reflects the current situation in the rice production sector of the country.

Ramos noted that from March 2024, at least 609,000 agricultural jobs were lost, of which 483,000 jobs were linked to rice (palay) production.

On further improving the country’s economic status, Ramos urged the national government to strengthen genuine land reforms and to focus on national industrialization instead.