Rising number of jobless Filipinos worries DOLE

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has sounded the alarm on the increasing number of part-time workers or underemployed Filipinos—7.312 million of them now—and of jobless Filipino youth—1.450 million of them at present.

Baldoz, who is attending a conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, said “underemployment remains a serious problem,” which, she added, outweighs the gains of having more people this year entering the country’s work force from 39.7 million in 2011 to 40.6 million.

She added that the 2012 Labor Force Survey of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) showed that while there was a marginal decrease in percentage, from 19.4 percent in April 2011 to 19.3 percent in April 2012, the number of underemployed people increased by 185,000 to 7.312 million.

According to Baldoz, the increase in the number of persons in wage and salary employment of 748,000, or 3.7 percent, this year is a positive note. “[But] this is negated by the rise in part-time employment accompanied by the decline in full-time employment.”

“This phenomenon was observed both across age groups and in the industry and services sectors. The unusual rise in part-time employment, though, appears to be ‘voluntary’ as there was no notable increase in visible underemployment. This means that the majority of those who found part-time employment during the quarter did not express the desire for additional hours of work. Further, this phenomenon could be a ‘fluke’ or temporary in nature, and, therefore, needs further validation,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Although unemployment in the Philippines eased from 7.2 percent, or 2.87 million jobless in April 2011 to 6.9 percent, or 2.80 million jobless in April 2012, there are now more young (ages 15 to 24) people who are jobless.

The latest labor-force survey showed that unemployment in the 15- to 24-year-old bracket rose from 1.436 million in April 2011 to 1.450 million in April 2012. There are more men than women, 1.74 million versus 1.05 million, who do not have jobs.

The labor-force survey also showed that in 2010, there were 2.27 million young Filipinos who are in vulnerable employment, or those without social protection and decent work conditions.

An ILO report released during the annual conference, meanwhile, said “the world risks losing a generation” if the problem of having 75 million jobless young people prevails.

Presented to delegates during the May 30 to June 14 ILO Conference (ILC) in Geneva, the report said that, “unless immediate and vigorous action is taken, the global community confronts the grim legacy of a lost generation.”

The ILO urged governments to adopt strong measures to address the lingering problems of skills mismatches, improve apprenticeship systems and promote youth entrepreneurship.

“A great deal has been learned about how to address barriers young people face to transition into the labor market, but in many countries ineffective macroeconomic and other policies have not delivered enough jobs in general and for the youth in particular,” the ILO report said.

It further showed that the number of young people who are jobless has increased by 4 million to 75 million this year since the pre-crisis period in 2007. –ESTRELLA TORRES / REPORTER, Businessmirror