The number of unemployed Filipinos rose to 2.5 million in May from 2.41 million in April, according to a report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Wednesday.
This translated to an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, slightly higher than the 4.7 percent recorded in the previous month.
Despite the increase in joblessness, other labor market indicators showed signs of improvement.
PSA data showed that the number of employed Filipinos increased to 49.63 million in May from 48.9 million in April.
However, the employment rate slightly declined to 95.2 percent from 95.3 percent.
The labor force also expanded, with 52.13 million Filipinos aged 15 years and over either employed or actively seeking work.
This was equivalent to a labor force participation rate of 63.8 percent, up from 51.3 million Filipinos or 62.7 percent in April.
Meanwhile, the number of underemployed Filipinos, or those seeking additional work or longer working hours to increase their income, fell to 6.04 million in May.
This brought the underemployment rate down to 12.2 percent from 7.41 million, or 15.2 percent, a month earlier.