AMID the continued drop in the number of jobless Filipinos, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said underemployment remains a challenge in the Philippines.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the employment sector continues to search for more quality jobs for Filipinos.
“The challenge remains to be being able to generate and create quality jobs. We continue to be in search of quality jobs,” said Laguesma.
Based on the November 2023 Labor Force Survey (LFS), the country’s underemployment rate stands at 11.7 percent.
The underemployment rate was at the same level (11.7%) in October 2023.
Underemployed persons are those who have expressed their desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work.
Laguesma said they are hoping the billions of pledges and thousands of jobs stemming from the foreign engagements of President Marcos Jr. will help them achieve their goal.
“Hopefully, with the pledges and commitment of investors to President Marcos, these goals will be realized,” he said.
He said the government is bent on doing its part in making the country more attractive to foreign investors.
“We try to provide an enabling environment conducive to investments, like maintaining and promoting industrial peace, making sure that respect for workers’ rights, as well as rights of employers, should always be there,” added Laguesma.
