THE number of unemployed Filipinos increased in March this year following the effects of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon and the African swine fever (ASF) on the agriculture sector, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday showed.
There were 2 million unemployed Filipinos in March, translating to an unemployment rate of 3.9%, based on the labor force of 51.15 million Filipinos aged 15 and above or a labor force participation rate of 65.3%, according to the PSA.
The number of unemployed individuals stood at 2.42 million in March 2023, while it was 1.80 million in February.
Employed persons stood at 49.15 million in March 2024, equivalent to an employment rate of 96.1%, which compares with the 48.95 million in February with a 96.5% employment rate, and the 48.58 million in March 2023 with an employment rate of 95.3%.
The biggest monthly declines were seen in agriculture and forestry which fell by 318,000; transportation and storage by 292,000; construction by 214,000; administrative and support service activities by 118,000; and human health and social work activities by 75,000.
In a press briefing, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa attributed the declines to lower production as the country faced heightened levels of heat amid the ongoing El Niño.
“Ang isa sa malaking naapektuhan in terms of employment ay ‘yung agriculture sector, kasama na rin ‘yung fisheries… Ito ay talagang related to planting, harvesting, growing,” Mapa said.
He added: “In the past, talagang may ganon kasi related ito doon sa production naman so siyempre ‘pag bumababa, ‘yung ating operators ay nagbabawas din ng workers.”
Mapa also cited a 202,000 decline in hog farming for the month, as production was also tempered by the ASF.
“Ito ‘yung continuous ‘yung problem ng ASF. May mga probinsya na nagkaroon ng ASF kaya nagkaroon ng reduction sa production nila,” he said.
In terms of construction, Mapa reported a 214,000 decline as he noted that there were two major groups that saw monthly declines during the month as employees in construction of buildings dropped by 174,000, and electrical installers fell by 53,000.
Underemployed individuals — those seeking additional working hours or to have additional jobs — fell to 5.39 million, equivalent to an underemployment rate of 11.0%.
This marks an improvement from the 6.08 million individuals and an underemployment rate of 12.4% in February, and the 5.44 million underemployed persons and underemployment rate of 11.2% in March 2023. (GMA Integrated News)
