Manila, Feb. 6 -- Policy measures are being put in place to improve labor market conditions in the country and address the impacts of domestic and global developments, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said Friday.

The department made the statement after the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent in December 2025 from 3.1 percent in the same month in 2024.

Lower figures were also reported over the same period for the labor force participation rate from 65.1 percent to 64.4 percent, and the employment rate from 96.9 percent to 95.6 percent.

However, the underemployment rate improved from 10.9 percent to 8 percent, the lowest since April 2005.

D...