A labor group criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s economic strategies following a rise in the country’s unemployment and underemployment rates for April as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“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,” labor leader Danilo Ramos said on Sunday.

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

The latest figures, covering individuals aged 15 and above, translate to about 2.06 million jobless Filipinos — slightly more than the 2.04 million recorded in April 2024.

In response, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) emphasized the Philippine economy’s resilience despite global challenges.

“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,” said DEPDev officer-in-charge Rosemarie Edillon.

But Ramos pointed out that the employment data reflects the deteriorating conditions in the country’s farming production sector. He noted that since March 2024, around 609,000 agricultural jobs have been lost, with 483,000 of those in rice (palay) production.

To improve the country’s economic outlook, Ramos urged the national government to implement genuine land reform and prioritize national industrialization.

Despite posting a P67.3-billion budget surplus in April, the Marcos administration ended the first trimester of 2025 with a P411.5 billion fiscal deficit, according to data from the Bureau of the Treasury.