WS: Unemployed Pinoys fewer by 3.4 M M

SANILA, Philippines – Unemployed Filipinos dropped by about 3.4 million in the first quarter of 2015, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest report.

The new SWS survey showed the country’s joblessness rate falling from 27 percent, or an estimated 12.4 million adults, in December last year to 19.1 percent, or about nine million adults in March 2015.

This was the lowest unemployment figure in four-and-a-half years, the pollster noted.

The jobless Filipinos consist of seven percent who voluntarily left their jobs, from 14 percent in December; eight percent who were retrenched, from nine percent; and four percent first-time job seekers, from three percent.

By gender, joblessness among women was recorded at 27.6 percent in March, down from 41.7 percent in December. Unemployment among men also lessened from 15.6 percent to 12.2 percent.

By age group, the joblessness rate among those 45 years and above was eight percent, lower than last quarter’s 19 percent and the lowest since March 2005.

Joblessness also decreased among the 35-44 age bracket and among the 25-34 bracket to 16 percent 28 percent, respectively.

The joblessness rate, however, went up among those in the 18-24 age group to 50 percent from last quarter’s 48 percent.

Results of the SWS unemployment survey were published in BusinessWorld yesterday.

Meanwhile, the same survey found more Filipinos who foresee increased job opportunities in the next 12 months.

Optimism about job availability in the next 12 months – computed as those who think there will be more jobs minus those who believe jobs will be fewer – rose to a “high” +20 from a “fair” +16 last December.

This was the highest recorded since November 2010’s +36, the SWS noted.

The survey reported 38 percent of adults saying the number of job openings will increase, 31 percent think it will not change and 18 percent believe there will be fewer hires.

The SWS describes as “very high” a net optimism score of +30 and above; +20 to +29, “high”; +10 to +19, “fair”; +1 to +9, “mediocre”; -9 to zero, “low”; and -10 and down, “very low.”

The SWS’ definition of joblessness differs from that used by the government.

SWS respondents are at least 18 years old compared to the lower official boundary of 15 years of age used by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

SWS defined joblessness as having no job at present and also looking for one.

The government’s official Labor Force Survey, meanwhile, defines the unemployed as those not working, are looking for work or are available for work.

Applying the government’s definition, the SWS said adult joblessness as of March would be 12.4 percent or about 5.4 million Filipinos.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), meanwhile, announced that over 100,000 local and overseas jobs are up for grabs for new graduates and other jobseekers in simultaneous job fairs to be held on May 1, Labor Day.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they are initiating job fairs in different venues in the country’s 17 regions.

Baldoz said DOLE is providing convenient venues that will enable new graduates and other jobseekers to speed up their employment search and for employers to fast-track their search for skilled and qualified personnel.

Of the 17 regions, Central Luzon and National Capital Region (NCR) posted the biggest number of vacancies with 40,000 and 30,000 positions, respectively.

DOLE-NCR said among the top 10 vacancies in the region are for cashier, financial adviser and customer service representative. – Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)