{"id":13846,"date":"2025-07-09T00:30:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/?p=13846"},"modified":"2025-07-09T00:30:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:30:48","slug":"unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/","title":{"rendered":"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> &#8220;`html<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>By <strong>Adrian H. Halili, <\/strong><em>Journalist<\/em><\/p>\n<p>THE PHILIPPINES\u2019 joblessness rate dipped to 3.9% in May from 4.1% in April, with the count of individuals in the workforce reaching a record peak, the government disclosed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The tally of unemployed Filipinos fell to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April and 2.11 million a year prior, based on the findings of the Philippine Statistics Authority\u2019s (PSA) recent Labor Force Survey unveiled on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>On a yearly basis, the unemployment rate also decreased from 4.1% in May 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The nation\u2019s joblessness rate averaged at 4% during the initial five months of 2025, unchanged from the corresponding timeframe the previous year.<\/p>\n<p>National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa attributed the decline in the May joblessness rate to a \u201csignificant\u201d rise in the number of Filipinos aged 15 years and older in the workforce.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe growth in our labor force participation is notable \u2014 there was a 1.35 million increase year on year,\u201d he stated at a press briefing. \u201cTypically, when labor force participation rises, unemployment also escalates. However, this instance is different \u2014 almost everyone was absorbed, resulting in a decrease in joblessness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur only worry is that underemployment has increased (year on year),\u201d he continued. \u201cOur underemployment rate last year was only 9.9%, which rose by 1.79 million to 13.1%. Those who entered the labor market, although they were employed, were not all full-time employees, which also contributed to the underemployment rate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>PSA data revealed that 52.32 million Filipinos were part of the labor force in May, up from 50.74 million in April and the 50.97 million working Filipinos noted in May 2024.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2507209Labor_Force_Record-scaled.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" td-modal-image aligncenter wp-image-684076 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2507209Labor_Force_Record-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1205\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This was the highest reported count since April 2005, when the PSA began monitoring the data.<\/p>\n<p>The labor force participation rate (LFPR), or the fraction of the working-age populace (15 years old and above) that is involved in the labor force, rose to 65.8% in May from 63.7% in April and 64.8% in the same month last year.<\/p>\n<p>Concurrently, the underemployment rate \u2014 those desiring more working hours or an additional job \u2014 diminished to 13.1% in May from 14.6% in April but increased from 9.9% in the same month last year.<\/p>\n<p>This equated to 6.6 million Filipinos seeking extra jobs or longer working hours, 489,000 fewer than the 7.09 million in April. Compared to the previous year, this rose from 4.82 million in May 2024.<\/p>\n<p>For the five-month duration, the underemployment rate averaged 12.9%, up from 12.3% last year.<\/p>\n<p>Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan remarked that the rise in labor force participation in May indicated a \u201crobust and competitive\u201d job market.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGenerally, a larger workforce can lead to heightened economic output and potentially faster GDP (gross domestic product) growth, as more individuals contribute to the economy,\u201d Mr. Balisacan stated in a release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis also signifies growing confidence in the labor market and the effects of ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding access to employment prospects across sectors,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>The Philippines is aiming for a GDP growth of 5.5%-6.5% in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>DEPDev noted that the country\u2019s unemployment rate remains lower than that of China (5%) and India (5.6%), but higher than Malaysia (3%) and Vietnam (2.2%).<\/p>\n<p>Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto stated in a release that increased labor participation signifies that more Filipinos are perceiving improved job opportunities and is a marker of economic advancement.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Balisacan expressed that the government\u2019s planned infrastructure initiatives could aid in attracting job-creating investments.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasized that efforts to equip Filipinos with sought-after skills and competencies can help our workforce stay adaptable amid a competitive labor market.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will utilize recently enacted policy reforms to enhance upskilling and reskilling initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>EMPLOYMENT RATE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The PSA additionally disclosed that the employment rate edged up to 96.1% in May from 95.9% in both April 2025 and May 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The number of Filipinos in jobs increased to 50.29 million in May from 48.67 million in the previous month and 48.87 million in the same month last year.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Gainers_Industry.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" td-modal-image aligncenter wp-image-684078 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Gainers_Industry.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2525\" height=\"1594\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>By sector, services remained the primary employer for the month, representing 61.8% of total employed persons, followed by agriculture (21.1%) and the industrial sector (17.1%).<\/p>\n<p>Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles experienced the most significant annual job increase during the month, adding 489,000 positions. This was succeeded by agriculture and forestry (469,000), administrative and support service activities (371,000), accommodation and food service activities (365,000), and other service activities (175,000).<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, manufacturing marked the largest annual drop in employment (374,000), trailed by construction (298,000); mining and quarrying (82,000); public administration, defense, and social security (54,000); and water supply and waste management activities (50,000).<\/p>\n<p>By worker classification, wage and salary workers constituted 62.8% of the workforce in May, followed by self-employed individuals without paid employees (27.9%), unpaid family workers (7.5%), and employers in family-run farms or businesses (1.8%).<\/p>\n<p>Working hours averaged 39.8 hours weekly in May, slightly down from the 39.9 hours in April. Average working hours also decreased year on year from the 40.6 hours per week recorded in May 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong>INFLATION WOES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, analysts indicated that the rise in labor participation observed in May was likely a consequence of inflation anxieties.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElevated inflation, uncertainties, and inadequate job opportunities compelled individuals, including those who were initially part of the labor force, to contribute more to the family\u2019s financial resources. Having just a single earner in the household is no longer sufficient \u2014 not even two earners,\u201d Maria Ella Calaor-Oplas, an economics professor specializing in human capital development research at De La Salle University, expressed in a Facebook Messenger discussion.<\/p>\n<p>She added that the midterm elections likely stimulated employment opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe LFPR is plausibly rising because household incomes are exceedingly low, and prices of necessities are exorbitant, compelling more family members to actively pursue work,\u201d IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique \u201cSonny\u201d A. Africa similarly stated in a Viber message. \u201cUnpacking this seemingly positive rise highlights that more Filipinos are attempting to make a living from whatever informal and low-quality jobs they can find in an economy that is failing to create stable and adequately compensated work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Africa emphasized that the government should concentrate on developing the agriculture and industrial sectors to enhance employment.<\/p>\n<p>Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula also asserted that the government should focus on domestically-driven job creation by supporting small enterprises and rural cooperatives, as well as improving wages, given the year-on-year rise in underemployment indicates that many jobs in the country are \u201cstill low-paying or unstable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bworldonline.com\/top-stories\/2025\/07\/09\/684072\/jobless-rate-drops-to-3-9-in-may\/\">Source link <\/a><br \/>\n&#8220;`<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;`html By Adrian H. Halili, Journalist THE PHILIPPINES\u2019 joblessness rate dipped to 3.9% in May from 4.1% in April, with the count of individuals in the workforce reaching a record peak, the government disclosed on Tuesday. The tally of unemployed Filipinos fell to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April and 2.11 million<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[2943],"class_list":["post-13846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy-and-markets","tag-return-a-list-of-comma-separated-tags-from-this-title-jobless-rate-drops-to-3-9-in-may"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&#8220;`html By Adrian H. Halili, Journalist THE PHILIPPINES\u2019 joblessness rate dipped to 3.9% in May from 4.1% in April, with the count of individuals in the workforce reaching a record peak, the government disclosed on Tuesday. The tally of unemployed Filipinos fell to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April and 2.11 million\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WSJ-Crypto\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T22:30:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"wsjcrypto\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Scritto da\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"wsjcrypto\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Tempo di lettura stimato\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minuti\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/\",\"name\":\"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-08T22:30:48+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/88a93723b30416db1a352d5a0096c4a7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"it-IT\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"it-IT\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1450},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/\",\"name\":\"WSJ-Crypto\",\"description\":\"Just Another Crypto News Website\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"it-IT\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/88a93723b30416db1a352d5a0096c4a7\",\"name\":\"wsjcrypto\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"it-IT\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86fe8af82ea089646d6639ca2f87e0243d8688d957bd8e3ec22ec3c457cc16d4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86fe8af82ea089646d6639ca2f87e0243d8688d957bd8e3ec22ec3c457cc16d4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"wsjcrypto\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/author\/wsjcrypto\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/","og_locale":"it_IT","og_type":"article","og_title":"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto","og_description":"&#8220;`html By Adrian H. Halili, Journalist THE PHILIPPINES\u2019 joblessness rate dipped to 3.9% in May from 4.1% in April, with the count of individuals in the workforce reaching a record peak, the government disclosed on Tuesday. The tally of unemployed Filipinos fell to 2.03 million in May from 2.06 million in April and 2.11 million","og_url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/","og_site_name":"WSJ-Crypto","article_published_time":"2025-07-08T22:30:48+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1450,"url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"wsjcrypto","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Scritto da":"wsjcrypto","Tempo di lettura stimato":"5 minuti"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/","url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/","name":"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May - WSJ-Crypto","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-08T22:30:48+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/88a93723b30416db1a352d5a0096c4a7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"it-IT","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"it-IT","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/250709Labor_Force-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1450},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/unemployment-rate-falls-to-3-9-in-may\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.9% in May"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/","name":"WSJ-Crypto","description":"Just Another Crypto News Website","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"it-IT"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/88a93723b30416db1a352d5a0096c4a7","name":"wsjcrypto","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"it-IT","@id":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86fe8af82ea089646d6639ca2f87e0243d8688d957bd8e3ec22ec3c457cc16d4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/86fe8af82ea089646d6639ca2f87e0243d8688d957bd8e3ec22ec3c457cc16d4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"wsjcrypto"},"url":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/author\/wsjcrypto\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13846"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13849,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13846\/revisions\/13849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wsj-crypto.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}