5 June 2020 – PH unemployment at all-time high with 7.3 million jobless in April 2020

Published by rudy Date posted on June 5, 2020

(UPDATED) The Philippines’ unemployment rate for April surges to 17.7%, the highest ever on record, as the coronavirus pandemic wipes out jobs

by Ralf Rivas, 5 Jun 2020

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Unemployment soared to 17.7% in April 2020, equivalent to around 7.3 million jobless Filipinos amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on Friday, June 5.

National Statistician Dennis Mapa said this is the highest unemployment rate on record.

Unemployment was only at 5.3% in January 2020, or 2.4 million people, and 5.1% in April 2019, or 2.3 million people.

After January 2020, an additional 4.9 million people became jobless.

The Department of Labor and Employment earlier estimated 5 million jobs would be lost due to the pandemic.

Records began in 1987, with the highest rate for that year at 10.2%. Mapa also said the last double-digit jump in unemployment was in the 2nd quarter of 1991, when it hit 14.4%.

To stay updated on news, advisories, and explainers, check out our special coverage page, “Novel Coronavirus Outbreak.”

Mapa noted, however, that figures before 2005 are not comparable to the current rate, since the PSA revised the metrics of measuring unemployment in 2005.

All regions badly hit

All regions reported double-digit unemployment rates in April 2020, with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao suffering the worst at 29.8%. (READ: ‘Sariling diskarte’: The heavy impact of lockdown on micro, small businesses)

The employment rate fell to 82.3%, from 94.7% in January 2020 and 94.9% in April 2019.

Mapa noted that 38.4% of employed workers reported that they were not working, primarily due to the strict coronavirus lockdown.

Underemployment, or people who have jobs but are looking for more to meet their needs, rose to 18.9% in April from the 13.4% in the same month last year.

The labor force participation rate among Filipinos 15 years and older is estimated at 55.6%, the lowest in the history of the Philippines. – Rappler.com

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.