9.4M people jobless in last quarter of ‘23

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JOBLESSNESS rose to 9.4 million people or 19.5 percent in the last quarter of 2023, almost the same level as the average joblessness rating before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the fourth quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from December 8 to 11, 2023 showed.

The survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±2.8 percent, showed that 19.5 percent (estimated 9.4 million) were jobless in the last quarter of last year, up by 2.6 points from 16.9 percent (estimated 7.9 million).

It was 3.3 points below the 22.8 percent joblessness rate in June 2023 and 0.5 percent higher than the 19 percent rating in March 2023, resulting in an average of 19.6 percent in 2023.

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The 19.5 percent December rating and 19.6 percent average rating are almost similar to the 19.8 percent pre-COVID pandemic level.

The SWS said jobless is composed of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, are seeking jobs for the first time, or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.

The polling firm said joblessness rose in all areas except Luzon with the highest in Metro Manila at 23.2 percent (from19.2 percent), followed by Luzon at 21 percent (almost unchanged from 20.8 percent), the Visayas at 18 percent (from 12.2 percent) and Mindanao at 15.6 percent (from 12.4 percent).

It also rose in both urban areas (21.2 percent from 18 percent) and rural areas (17.8 percent from 15.7 percent).

Joblessness also remained higher among women at 26 percent (up from 21. 1 percent) than among men at 15 percent (almost unchanged from 14 percent).

The SWS said joblessness was highest among the 18-to-24-year-olds at 53.7 percent (down from 34.4 percent), followed by the 35-to-44-year-olds at 20.9 percent (up from16.5 percent), the 25-to-34-year-olds at 19.1 percent (down from 22.7 percent), and those 45 years old and above at 12.8 percent (up from 11.9 percent).

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