ILOILO City – In January, Western Visayas’ employment rate was 90.9 percent. This rose to 92.5 percent in April, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
In April 2020, the region’s employment rate was 86.3 percent.
One contributory factor was the reopening of business establishments that were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to John Mandario, information officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6.
The resumption of public transport was also a factor.
“We have to remember nga sang first quarter sang 2021 nagpamukas sang commercial establishments, transportation, nagbalik. Ti, siempre kon bukas ang businesses ma-relate ta sa job opportunities. So kon may job opportunities, masaka sina ang employment rate kag magpanaog ang unemployment rate,” said Mandario.
To note, the region was placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in June last year.
With such, works in government offices, restaurants, agriculture, forestry and fisheries were gradually allowed. Public transport also resumed.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in January this year was at 9.1 percent. It dipped to 7.5 percent in April, PSA’s record also showed.
In April 2020, the region’s unemployment rate was 13.7 percent./PN
