THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that while there were some gains in the job market, more opportunities are needed after an uptick in unemployment rate.
The Philippine Statistics Authority on Nov. 6 reported that the number of jobless Filipinos rose to 2.86 million in September 2026, bringing the country’s unemployment rate to 5.4%.
“DOLE will continue working with employers, local government units, PESOs, and partner agencies to improve job matching, promote youth employability, and expand livelihood opportunities toward decent and productive employment,” it added.
DOLE also noted that there was a year-on-year increase in the labor force to 53.19 million in September 2026, yet the employment rate still declined to 94.6% from 96.2%.
“For the Department of Labor and Employment, employment gains reflect continued labor market activity, particularly in the Services sector. However, the need to address the increase in unemployment also emphasizes the need to ensure that more Filipinos gain access to decent and sustainable employment opportunities,” the agency said in a statement.
This means that there are more people who are at the right age to work, but not all are able to find jobs.
Youth unemployment has also increased to 15.3% in September 2026 from 11.6% the same time last year, according to DOLE. This was despite a 606,000 increase in employed youth.
“This highlights the need to intensify implementation of youth employability programs, internships, school-to-work transition and employment facilitation,” DOLE said. (GMA News)
