Jobless Pinoys down to 10 million–survey

After hitting a record-high 14 million jobless rate in February, unemployment figures plummeted four months later, according to results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey found adult unemployment rate to be declining, with an estimated 10 million, or 25.9 percent of Filipinos out of work.

According to the SWS, the unemployment rate consisted of 10 percent who were retrenched, 9 percent who resigned or voluntarily left their old jobs, and 6 percent first-time job seekers.

The retrenchment consisted of 7 percent of respondents whose previous contact was not renewed, 2 percent whose employer closed shop, and 1 percent who were laid off.

Despite the decline in unemployment rate from the 34.2 percent in February, SWS said unemployment has been high since 2005.

“Except for December 2007 when it was at 17.5 percent, adult unemployment in the SWS surveys has been 20 percent and above since May 2005,” the survey group reported.

SWS noted that “over the past four quarters, adult unemployment is dominated by those who lost their jobs through economic circumstances beyond their control, and those who voluntarily left their old work.”

Palace allies pleased

Congressmen belonging to the ruling political party credited the administration’s efforts for the positive SWS report on employment.

Rep. Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, said the survey results reflect the sound economic policies of President Gloria Arroyo.

He added that the latest survey results should encourage the administration to continue focusing on creating jobs and keeping existing ones to blunt the effects of the global recession.

“The government with its Economic Resiliency Plan prioritizes emergency employment or livelihood creation and preservation. We should sustain this and focus on other activities that can create the most number of jobs while allowing government to improve our people’s lives,” Romualdo said.

The latest SWS survey on unemployment was conducted from June 19 to 22, 2009 using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and 600 in the balance of Luzon, which refers to all the regions on the main island except Metro Manila.

Margins of errors are plus or minus 2.5 percent for national percentages, plus or minus 6 percent for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, and plus or minus 4 percent for the balance Luzon.

SWS said its surveys on unemployment “are not commissioned, but are done on its own initiative and released as a public service.’’ –Rommel C. Lontayao, Reporter with Report From Jomar Canlas