Manila, Dec. 11 -- The increase in unemployment rate was due to natural calamities that hit some parts of the country in the past months, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Thursday.

Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the hike recorded in October 2025 is attributed to typhoons and earthquakes that were experienced in some parts of the country.

"The increase was attributed to reported natural calamities such as southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones plus the effects of the earthquake that hit Cebu and Davao Oriental," he said in a Viber message.

"While there's an uptick on the unemployment rate from 3.9 percent in October 2024 to 5 percent, the increase is still within the target 4.8 to 5.1 (percent) for 2025."

Howe...