The Philippines' unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in April, down from 5.3% in March, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority and reported by Philstar Biz.
Despite the improvement in the headline figure, job quality weakened during the month. The underemployment rate—which measures those seeking additional hours or better-paying work—rose to 15.2% from 13.8% in March, indicating that more workers are in precarious or part-time positions.
Economists noted that the labor market remains uneven, with gains in services and construction offset by persistent weakness in manufacturing and agriculture. The government has pledged to ramp up job creation through infrastructure spending and investment incentives.