Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — Employers in the country hired more Filipinos in August, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Friday.
In a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa reported that the number of jobless Filipinos hit 2.21 million, a decrease from July’s 2.27 million.
The latest figure also translates to a national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
The number of people in the labor force market jumped to 50.29 million in August, up from July’s 46.90 million.
Employed people also climbed to 48 million in August, higher than the 44.63 million in July, while the underemployed—or those with jobs but are still looking for additional income—fell from 7.10 million to 5.63 million.
According to Mapa, the country saw a spike in activities in fishing and agriculture, as well as in retail trade amid the school opening.
“Napansin namin na nagkaron ng activities na related to planting noong August after nung binaha tayo noong July kaya tumigil,” the official said.
[Translation: We noticed there were activities related to planting in August after they were halted due to flooding in July.]
In retail trade, Mapa said the PSA also recorded an increase in the number of workers for school-related jobs, such as the production of school uniforms.
Based on month-on-month data, agriculture and forestry led the industries with the biggest increase in employment with 1.95 million. It was followed by wholesale and retail trade with 1.14 million.
Construction, fishing and aquaculture, and education also posted increases in employment figures.
But while there was improvement in the number of employed persons, the quality of jobs remained low.
“Sa wages and salary workers slight ang galaw. Malaking increase ay sa self-employed at unpaid family workers… hindi ganun kataas ang quality of jobs,” Mapa said.
[Translation: There was only a slight movement in wages and salary workers. There was a big increase in self-employed and unpaid family workers, but the quality of jobs was not that high.]
Asked if he expects a more robust labor market in the fourth quarter, Mapa said there was a seasonality factor during the ‘Ber’ months as businesses open more markets and bazaars.
