JORDAN, Guimaras – Guimaras’ unemployment rate – or the proportion of unemployed persons to the total number of persons in the labor force – soared to 8.0 percent in 2020, more than double the 3.7 percent rate in 2019, recently released data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
A total of 5,710 persons in the labor force were unemployed in 2020, higher than the 2,840 jobless individuals in 2019 and 2,760 out of work in 2018.
The 2020 figure was the highest among the three comparative years.
The Labor Force Participation Rate, or the proportion of the total number of persons in the labor force to the total population 15 years old and over, was estimated at 71,510 individuals in 2020, of which 92.0 percent or around 65,800 were employed, and 5,710 were unemployed.
According to Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida Losare, of the 65,800l employed persons, 12.9 percent or an estimated 8,480 individuals were underemployed or expressed their desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have additional job, or wanted to have a new job with longer working hours.
The number of underemployed persons in 2020 was lower than the 2019 and 2018 population estimated at 9,830 and 8,860 persons, respectively.
Across provinces, Aklan got the highest unemployment rates in two comparative years – 11.2 percen in 2020 and 5.9 percent in 2019.
Next to Aklan are Iloilo (8.9 percent), Negros Occidental (8.4 percent), and Guimaras (8.0 percent) in 2020.
Capiz consistently recorded the least unemployment rates for two years.
The assistance of other agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is necessary to help narrow down the unemployment rate of Guimaras.
In 2020, DOLE-Guimaras Provincial Office assisted 2,719 individuals through their emergency employment program, of which 2,615 or 96.1 percent were females and 104 or 3.8 percent were males.
The figure is more than double that in 2019 beneficiaries totaled at 1,033 individuals with 857 males and 176 female beneficiaries./PN
