MANILA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in December 2025, with about 2.26 million Filipinos out of work, said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday.
PSA Chief Claire Dennis Mapa said at a press conference that the number of unemployed individuals in December 2025 was slightly higher than the 2.25 million recorded in November 2025, indicating a marginal month-on-month increase.
The latest figure was also higher than the 1.63 million unemployed Filipinos recorded in December 2024, when the unemployment rate stood at 3.1 percent.
Despite the stable rate, economic managers acknowledged ongoing labor-market challenges, driven by both global headwinds and domestic pressures.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the Philippine government remains committed to strengthening the labor market and generating quality employment opportunities as it pushes forward with its development agenda.
DEPDev Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the government plans to resume and accelerate the completion of delayed infrastructure projects while prioritizing the rollout of high-impact programs, activities, and projects in key sectors to stimulate economic growth and job creation. ■