Core Insights - The unemployment rate in the Philippines rose to 4.1% in April, marking the second consecutive month of increase, with the number of unemployed reaching 2.06 million [1] - The unemployment rates for February and March were 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively, indicating a month-over-month increase and a year-over-year rise of 0.1 percentage points [1] - The number of unemployed increased by 130,000 from March to April [1] Employment Sector Analysis - The services sector remains the largest employer in the Philippines, with 30.12 million jobs, accounting for 61.9% of total employment [1] - Agriculture and industry represent 20.6% and 17.5% of total employment, respectively [1] - From January to April, employment in agriculture, accommodation and food services, and transportation and warehousing saw a significant decline, while administrative and support services, construction, and fisheries experienced job growth [1] Employment Quality and Youth Participation - The underemployment rate in April rose to 14.6%, up from 13.4% in March, indicating that 7.09 million workers are seeking more hours or better job opportunities [1] - The labor force participation rate for the 15 to 24 age group increased from 29.4% to 31.8%, suggesting more youth are entering the labor market [1] - However, the unemployment rate for this age group also increased from 11.0% to 11.5%, reflecting heightened employment pressure among young individuals [1]

Group 1 - The unemployment rate in the Philippines for March is reported at 3.9%, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous month [1] - The labor force participation rate decreased to 62.9%, down 2.4 percentage points year-on-year and lower than 64.5% in February [1] - The total labor force dropped to 49.96 million from 51.15 million a year ago and 51.09 million in February, indicating a weakening labor market [1] Group 2 - The employed population in March decreased to 48.02 million, lower than 49.15 million in both the previous year and February [1] - The number of unemployed individuals in March was 1.93 million, a decrease of 70,000 from the previous year and slightly lower than 1.94 million in February [1] - The services sector accounted for the majority of employment, with 29.77 million jobs, representing 62.0% of total employment [1] Group 3 - The underemployment rate rose to 13.4% in March, up from 11.0% a year ago and 10.1% in February, indicating that 6.44 million workers are seeking more hours or better job opportunities [2] - The labor force participation rate for the 15 to 24 age group fell to 29.4% from 33.3% a year ago, while the unemployment rate for this group increased from 8.7% to 11.0%, highlighting increased pressure on youth employment [2]