THE number of Filipinos without jobs or livelihoods surged to over two million in April 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This increase, reported at a press briefing on Friday by National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa, reflects a growing disparity between the expanding labor force and the available job opportunities.
The PSA’s latest Labor Force Survey revealed that unemployment among Filipinos aged 15 and above rose slightly to 2.06 million in April, up from 1.93 million in March 2025. Compared to April 2024, the number of unemployed individuals climbed by 23,000, from 2.04 million.
This translates to an unemployment rate of 4.1%, a slight increase from 3.9% in March and 4% in April of the previous year. The rise is attributed to a significant increase in labor force participation. With 50.74 million individuals actively seeking work in April 2025, the expanding pool of job seekers outpaced the creation of new employment opportunities.
Mapa explained that the increase in labor force participation is the primary driver of the rising unemployment figures. While more people are entering the workforce, the market is failing to absorb them all, resulting in a higher unemployment rate. The labor force grew by 340,000 compared to April 2024 and by approximately 780,000 compared to March 2025.
The PSA’s findings highlight a concerning trend in the Philippine labor market. The government faces the challenge of creating more jobs to meet the growing demand from an expanding workforce. Further analysis is needed to understand the specific sectors driving this unemployment increase and to develop effective strategies to address this issue.
