SWS: Jobs outlook deteriorates but still ‘very high’
MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 8.6 million Filipinos remained jobless in the second quarter, according to a Social Weather Stations survey, although net optimism on job availability in the next 12 months stayed “very high.”
The second quarter Social Weather poll conducted from June 27 to 30 found adult joblessness at 19.7 percent, 4.2 points below the 23.9 percent (est. 10.9 million adults) posted in the preceding quarter.
The pollster interviewed face-to-face 1,200 adults nationwide for this survey. The latest poll has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
SWS’s adult joblessness data refers to adults in the labor force. “Those with a job at present, plus those without a job at present and looking for a job, are part of the labor force,” the survey noted.
In the April-June period, 9.5 percent (estimated 4.2 million adults) of Filipinos voluntarily left their old jobs while 6.8 percent (estimated 3 million adults) involuntarily lost their jobs.
Meanwhile, 3.4 percent (estimated 1.5 million adults) were first-time job seekers.
The June poll also revealed that adult labor force participation rate stood at 68.3 percent or an estimated 43.8 million adults. This is a 3.1 percent decrease from the 71.4 percent (est. 45.8 million adults) posted in the March survey.
Broken down, unemployment fell in Balance Luzon and Visayas, while it hardly changed elsewhere. Joblessness likewise significantly slipped in rural areas and among women.
Meanwhile, optimism that there will be more jobs steadied at 47 percent in June while respondents who expressed pessimistic job outlook increased by 3 points to 15 percent.
That yielded a net optimism on job availability score of a “very high” +32 in June, 5 points below the “very high” +37 in the first quarter.
Commenting on the survey results, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the figures show the economy is “really strong.”
Roque said SWS’ April-June poll is “consistent” with the July Labor Force Survey of the Philippines Statistics Authority.
Based on latest government data, while employment rate was at a 10-year high in July and jobless rate eased, more Filipinos sought additional work and income after underemployment worsened to 17.2 percent from 16.5 percent.
Inflation has been soaring above the government’s 2-4 percent target range this year, prompting many Filipinos to look for better jobs and labor groups to seek wage hikes. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral
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