MANILA – Unemployment eased in April compared to the same period in 2017 while underemployment rose, official data released Tuesday showed, underscoring the challenge for government to generate higher-paying jobs.
Unemployment in April declined to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent during the same month last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey.
Underemployment rose to 17 percent from 16.1 percent during the same comparable period.
The official jobless rate is based on the number of Filipinos 15-years old and above. The underemployed represent those who have jobs but wish to work additional hours or have an additional job.
With the availability of more high-paying jobs, coupled with strong economic fundamentals, Manila is “well-placed to speed up poverty reduction,” the World Bank said.
The Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and Metro Manila had the highest unemployment rates among regions at 7.3 percent, 6.6 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively.
Underemployment was highest in the Bicol Region (34 percent), followed by Caraga (29.4 percent), Eastern Visayas (23.8 percent) and Mimaropa (22.1 percent).
Of the total underemployed, 52.5 percent said they worked less than 40 hours per week while 46.1 percent said they worked above 40 hours per week.
Underemployment was highest in services (47.1 percent), agriculture (32.4 percent) and industry (20.5 percent).
Nearly half or 45.8 percent of the total unemployed persons were aged 15 to 24. There were more unemployed men, 62.7 percent, compared to women, who accounted for 37.3 percent. (ABS-CBN News)
