Jobless rate climbs to 5.8% in January

March 14, 2026 | 12:00am

Highest since hitting 6% in June 2022

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s unemployment rate in January rose to its highest level in over three years amid the seasonal decline in labor demand following the holiday season.

In a press conference yesterday, Deputy National Statistician Divina Gracia del Prado said the jobless rate stood at 5.8 percent in January, up from 4.4 percent in December 2025 and 4.3 percent in January last year.

In terms of magnitude, the number of jobless Filipinos increased to 2.96 million in January from 2.26 million in December 2025 and 2.17 million in January last year.

She also said the January unemployment rate is the highest since June 2022, when it reached six percent.

Del Prado said the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which is driving the increase in oil prices and may affect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)’ deployment, is likely to impact the labor market.

“We might see the effect in the March LFS results. That will be presented or reported in May,” she said, referring to the labor force survey.

She said the war in the Middle East could also affect hiring or lead to layoffs in the local market as rising oil prices push up costs.

“Given elevated geopolitical tensions and global uncertainties, strategic policies are needed to bolster labor market resilience. The government continues to pursue a comprehensive response to support affected workers in the short term while fostering a dynamic and robust labor market in the medium and long term,” Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Among the measures being undertaken in response to the ongoing Middle East conflict is providing targeted assistance to transport operators, farmers and fisherfolk.

To promote labor market resilience, the government is also pushing for new growth drivers, attracting investments in high-productivity sectors and addressing constraints such as high energy costs and low technology adoption, while facilitating the renewable energy shift to reduce reliance on oil imports.

As part of efforts to expand women’s access to high-quality jobs, the DEPDev launched this week the Juana Trabaho initiative together with the Australian government, aimed at increasing women’s participation in the workforce.

“Our priority is clear: create more and better jobs at home, strengthen industries, equip our workers with the skills needed for higher-value employment and ensure that those affected by global disruptions, including OFWs, can transition smoothly into productive opportunities here in the Philippines,” Balisacan said.