MANILA, May 8 -- The country's unemployment rate in March this year was estimated at 3.9 percent, lower than the recorded 4.7 percent in March last year, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Mapa said the number of unemployed Filipinos during the month went down to 2 million from 2.42 million in March 2023.

Mapa said the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in March 2024 was registered at 65.3 percent, or about 51.15 million Filipinos aged 15 and above who were either employed or unemployed.

The employment rate in March 2024 was recorded at 96.1 percent, higher than the 95.3 percent estimate in March of the previous year.

Several sectors contributed to employment gains.

The wholesale and retail trade s...