NSO reports 7.2% jobless rate in January

MANILA, Philippines - The unemployment rate in the country was relatively unchanged in January at 7.2 percent from 7.4 percent in the same period a year ago, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported yesterday.

The January 2012 Labor Force survey of the NSO showed that unemployment was highest in the National Capital Region (NCR) at 12.2 percent and lowest in Cagayan Valley at 2.4 percent. More males are unemployed (63.5 percent) compared to females (36.5 percent). Almost half of the unemployed (49 percent) were aged 15 to 24.

Across educational groups, one-third (33.7 percent) of the unemployed were high school graduates, 13.5 percent were college undergraduates, while 17.8 percent were college graduates.

The employment rate in January was also relatively unchanged at 92.8 percent from 92. percent in Janury 2011.

Employment rate was highest in Cagayan Valley at 97.6 percent. Other regions with high employment rates in January are: ARMM, 97 percent; MIMAROPA and Zamboanga Peninsula, both registering a rate of 96.6 percent; and SOCCSKSARGEN, 96 percent.

Employment was lowest in NCR at 87.8 percent.

Out of the country’s estimated population of 62.7 million population 15 years old and above in January, those in the labor force was estimated at 40.3 million, representing a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 64.3 percent, up from 63.7 percent in the same period last year.

Among the regions, MIMAROPA had the highest labor force participation rate at 70.4 percent while LFPR was lowest in ARMM at 57.8 percent.

In January, an estimated 37.4 million persons were employed. Those employed in the services sector comprised 52.7 percent, those in wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles comprised 19.3 percent, agriculture sector 32.6 percent and industry workers 14.7 percent.

Among occupation groups, laborers and unskilled workers comprised the largest group, making up 32.1 percent of the total employed persons in January. Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen were the second largest group with 15.4 percentage share.

Employed persons fall into the following categories: wage and salary workers, self-employed workers without any paid employee, employer in own family-operated farm or business, and unpaid family workers.

Wage and salary workers are those who work for private households, private establishments, government or government-controlled corporations, and those who work with pay in own family-operated farm or business.

The majority (54.8%) of those employed in January were wage and salary workers, 41.6 percent of whom work for private establishments. Those working for the government or government-controlled corporations accounted for only 8.2 percent. Those working for private households, 4.8 percent.

In January 2011, wage and salary workers accounted for 54.7 percent of the total employed.

Self-employed workers without any paid employee constituted 30.1 percent of those employed in January 2012, while employers in own family-operated farm or business made up 3.6 percent. The unpaid family workers accounted for 11.5 percent of the total employed.

Employed persons are classified as either full-time workers or part-time workers. Full-time workers are those who work for 40 hours every week or more while part-time workers work for less than 40 hours.

Of the total employed persons in January, 62.1 percent were working full time while 36.7 percent were working part-time.

Employed persons who want to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have additional job, or an to have a new job with longer working hours were considered underemployed.

The number of underemployed persons in January was placed at seven million, translating to an underemployment rate of 18.8 percent, down from 19.4 percent in the same period last year.

Fifty-nine percent of the total underemployed persons were visibly underemployed or working for less than 40 hours weekly. Those working for 40 hours or more accounted for 38.8 percent.

A large percentage of the underemployed were working in the agriculture sector (43.8%) and services sector (40.5%). The underemployed in the industry sector accounted for 15.7 percent.