MANILA. The number of unemployed Filipinos rose slightly to 1.97 million in October, marking a marginal increase from the previous month, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Friday. The PSA attributed the increase to disruptions caused by consecutive storms that affected labor force participation during the month.
PSA Chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa explained that the number of jobless individuals, aged 15 and above, grew from 1.89 million in September, but showed improvement when compared to 2.09 million unemployed people in October 2023. This resulted in an unemployment rate of 3.9%, up from 3.7% in September.
“We saw a decline in labor force participation and the number of employed because of weather disturbances… which entered the country in at least three weeks of October. It had an impact on the decision of our fellow Filipinos to participate in the labor market,” Mapa stated during a press conference.
Despite the slight uptick, year-on-year data showed a positive trend, with the total labor force expanding from 49.88 million in October 2023 to 50.12 million in October 2024. Mapa assured that the increase in unemployment figures was temporary, driven by the storms. “But if you look at the year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter data, there is an increase, so we view this as temporary because of the weather disturbances,” Mapa said.
The number of employed individuals also decreased, from 49.87 million in September to 48.16 million in October. However, there was a notable increase from 47.79 million employed people in October 2023.
In terms of industry, the services sector remained the largest contributor to employment, accounting for 61% of the workforce in October 2024. The agriculture and industry sectors followed with 21.2% and 17.9%, respectively.
Notable sub-sectors that saw significant growth in employment include:
- Administrative and support service activities: +247,000
- Accommodation and food service activities: +215,000
- Transportation and storage: +202,000
- Construction: +121,000
- Mining and quarrying: +101,000
On the other hand, sectors that experienced declines in employment included:
- Fishing and aquaculture: -213,000
- Wholesale and retail trade: -212,000
- Agriculture and forestry: -183,000
- Manufacturing: -123,000
- Other service activities: -23,000
The underemployment rate also rose to 12.6% in October, from 11.7% in the same month last year, affecting approximately 6.08 million workers who sought additional hours or another job. This increase was primarily seen in the wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, and forestry sectors.
However, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan noted that the government is focused on mitigating the economic impact of recent calamities. “We are developing a governance framework for public-private partnerships to finance climate-resilient infrastructure and provide emergency employment assistance,” he said. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is also continuing to implement its Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, offering cash-for-work assistance to displaced individuals.
Regarding employment types, wage and salary workers accounted for the largest portion of the workforce at 63.8%, followed by self-employed individuals without employees at 27.7%. The remaining share was made up of unpaid family workers (5.9%) and employers in family-run businesses (2.6%).
The government has been making strides to generate more job opportunities by prioritizing critical infrastructure projects in sectors like connectivity, telecommunications, and energy. “We are prioritizing the upskilling and reskilling of our workforce to equip Filipino workers with the knowledge and capabilities needed in today’s dynamic job market,” Balisacan concluded.
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AMA ACLC San Pablo
