Jobless Filipinos drop to 1.96M in September — PSA

The number of unemployed Filipinos dropped to 1.96 million in September 2025, lower than the 2.03 million recorded in August, based on the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday.

However, PSA chief and national statistician Claire Dennis Mapa noted that the latest figure was slightly higher than the 1.89 million jobless individuals registered in the same month last year.

“The number of unemployed persons this September is 1.96 million,” Mapa said during a press briefing.

“This is higher than the 1.89 million recorded in September 2024, but lower compared to 2.03 million in August 2025,” he added.

According to the PSA, the month-on-month improvement suggests a modest rebound in employment opportunities, particularly in sectors such as services, construction, and manufacturing, which have been driving the post-pandemic labor recovery.

Still, Mapa emphasized that challenges remain, including underemployment and job quality, as some workers continue to seek additional hours or better-paying jobs.

Economists said the latest data reflects the country’s ongoing adjustment to economic headwinds such as rising commodity prices and global market uncertainty, though the government’s infrastructure and investment programs are expected to sustain job creation in the coming months.

A more detailed breakdown of the LFS — including labor force participation, underemployment rate, and sectoral data — will be released by the PSA to provide a clearer picture of the country’s employment situation.