MANILA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' unemployment rate fell to 3.1 percent in December 2024 from 3.2 percent in the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.

PSA head Dennis Mapa said at a press conference that an estimated 1.63 million Filipinos were out of work in December last year, lower than the 1.66 million in November.

The unemployment rate in December 2023 was also at 3.1 percent.

Mapa said the full-year 2024 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, lower than the 2023 unemployment rate of 4.4 percent.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippine labor market "concluded 2024 on a positive note, with a stable employment rate and improving job quality."

Balisacan said the government is also reinforcing reintegration efforts for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly in light of shifting immigration policies in the United States under the Donald Trump administration.

He said the Philippines is implementing programs addressing the economic, social, and psychological aspects of reintegration to further support returning workers.

Balisacan said the government is also considering expanding centers in key regions to enhance service accessibility, ensuring that OFWs have the necessary support as they transition back into the local workforce and economy. ■