Employment in November improved on the back of a seasonal pick-up in business activity around Christmas is showing further potential growth in the runup to the next mid-term elections this year, analysts said. (See related unemployment story on page 1)
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Wednesday the employment rate rose to 96.8 percent in November last year from 96.1 percent the month before, and 96.4 percent in November 2023.
Unemployment in the same period dropped to 3.2 percent in November from 3.9 percent the month prior and 3.6 percent a year earlier.
“Usually in the last quarter, we do see job growths in accommodation services, restaurants and key inputs like food products,” national statistician and civil registrar general of the PSA, Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, said in a statement releasing the latest figures.
PSA data show that of the 79.26 million employable people in the country during the period, 51.20 million were part of the country’s workforce. Of those, 49.54 million had jobs, up from October’s 48.16 million. The latest number was lower than the 49.64 million employed individuals recorded in November 2023.
Unemployed individuals totaled 1.66 million in November, down from 1.97 million in October and the 1.83 million unemployed reported in November 2023.
Mapa noted in particular accommodation and food services posting growth of 528,000 jobs.
Jobs in manufacturing of food products increased by more than 200,000.
Hours worked
Employed individuals worked an average of 41.1 hours per week, up slightly from the 41 average hours worked in October and the 40.2 average hours worked in November 2023.
Individuals who say they could take in more work numbered 5.35 million, for an underemployment rate of 10.8 percent, which showed an improvement from 6.08 million individuals in October when underemployment was recorded at 12.6 percent.
In November 2023, underemployed individuals numbered 5.79 million, for an underemployment rate of 11.7 percent.
Top employers
The PSA said the service industry continued to be the biggest employer, with 62.1 percent of those employed coming from the sector.
The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 20 percent and 17.9 percent of the employed persons, respectively.
Wage and salaried workers comprised the bulk of the employed force at 63.8 percent, with
self-employed persons without any paid employee at 27.8 percent and unpaid family workers at 6.6 percent. Employers owning family-operated farms or businesses accounted for 1.8 percent.
In terms of new job generation, private businesses continued to top the list, providing jobs for 50.2 percent of the total employed people.
Labor market ‘robust’
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the latest job numbers show that the labor market remains “robust,” given its consistently high employment rates and reduced underemployment.
“The next step is to expand business and employment opportunities to enable more Filipinos to actively and productively contribute to the economy,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
To ensure an efficient labor market, there should be greater investment in quality job-generating sectors, enhancing skills and workforce mobility and improving employment facilitation services, Balisacan said.
“The government needs to facilitate the adoption of alternative work arrangements to account for workers’ evolving preferences, while considering organizations’ emerging demands. In addition, the government focuses on accelerating government programs that will increase employability, especially among the youth,” he added.
