MANILA -- (UPDATE) Philippine unemployment and underemployment eased in April, compared to the same period in the previous year, according to Philippine Statistics Office data released on Wednesday.

Unemployment fell to 5.1 percent from 5.5 percent while underemployment eased to 13.5 percent from 17 percent, the PSA said.

The country's employment rate was at 94.9 percent from 94.5 percent. The April 2019 Labor Force survey was based on a population of 72.5 million compared to 71 million during the same month in 2018, the PSA said.

It was the highest employment rate for the month of April since 2009, the National Economic Development Authority said in a statement.

The April employment rate of 94.9 percent is equivalent to 42.2 million Filipinos with jobs. Some 1.3 million jobs were created for the month, double compared to April 2018, the NEDA said.

"Both quality and quantity of work need to be addressed. At the same time that employment opportunities are being increased, workers and jobseekers must be enabled to improve their knowledge and skills through training and education," said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Employed persons include those working either part-time or full-time. Full-time workers, or those who work 40 hours or more per week, comprise 67.6 percent of employed workers while the rest are part time.

The underemployed are those who wish to work additional hours, have an additional job or a new job with longer working hours, the PSA said.