By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The rate of unemployment among Filipinos has increased for the second consecutive quarter at 21.5 percent, or an estimated 10 million adults, based on the third quarter of 2019 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
(SWS.ORG.PH / MANILA BULLETIN)
In the nationwide survey conducted from September 27 to 30 among 1,800 respondents, SWS found the joblessness rate rising to 21.5 percent (10 million Filipinos) of the total adult labor force.
It has been increasing since the 19.7 percent (9.4 million adults) in March 2019 and 20.7 percent (9.8 million adults) in June 2019.
SWS defines adult joblessness as those seeking jobs for the first time, those who voluntarily left their old jobs, or those retrenched or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.
The 21.5 percent who were jobless in September 2019 consisted of 9.5 percent (4.4 million adults) who voluntarily left their jobs, 3.5 percent (1.6 million adults) first-time job seekers, and 8.4 percent (3.9 million adults) retrenched.
The 8.4 percent who were retrenched consisted of 5.8 percent (2.7 million adults) whose contracts ended and no longer renewed, 1.3 percent (621,000 adults) whose previous employer closed operations, and 1.3 percent (596,000 adults) who got laid off.
SWS attributed the 0.8-point increase in the national adult joblessness to increases in the rest of Luzon (25 percent or 5.3 million adults), Mindanao (19.9 percent or 2.2 million adults), and Metro Manila (24.5 percent or 1.6 million), combined with a decline in Visayas (11.8 percent or 934,000 adults).
According to SWS, adult joblessness has been consistently higher among women than among men.
Compared to June 2019, adult joblessness rose among women, at 31.4 percent (6 million adults) in September 2019, from 28.5 percent (6.1 million adults) in June 2019.
It also increased among men, at 14.6 percent (4 million) in September, from 14.3 percent (3.7 million) in June.
Moreover, adult unemployment has been consistently highest among the 18 to 24 year olds compared to other age groups. It has also increased among all age groups except those under 18-24 year-olds.
It went higher among 25 to 34 year-olds, at 30.9 percent (3.3 million) in September 2019, from 28.1 percent (3.1 million) in June 2019.
It also increased among 35 to 44 year-olds, at 17.3 percent (2 million) in September, from 10.4 percent (1.2 million) in June; and among those aged 45 years and above, at 14 percent (2.8 million) in September, from 13.9 percent (2.7 million) in June.
However, it fell among 18 to 24 year-olds, at 44.9 percent (1.9 million) in September, from 50.2 percent (2.8 million) in June. This is the lowest since the 40 percent in September 2018, SWS pointed out.
Compared to June 2019, adult joblessness was higher in urban areas, at 23.4 percent (4.1 million) in September 2019, from 21.9 percent (4.3 million) in June 2019.
It increased slightly in rural areas, at 20.3 percent (5.8 million) in September, from 19.8 percent (5.5 million) in June.
The respondents were also asked about their outlook on job availability during the survey period.
SWS found 53 percent of total adults expect that there will be "more jobs" available and 13 percent said there will be "fewer jobs" in the next 12 months. These translate to a net optimism score of +40 (percentage of those saying more jobs minus percentage of those saying fewer jobs), classified as "excellent."
Meanwhile, 21 percent said there will be "no change" in the number of jobs available and 12 percent said they "don’t know."
The resulting net optimism score was three points below the record-high +43 in June 2019.
SWS pointed out that since November 1998, the score had been excellent in only four surveys--in December 2017 (+41), December 2018 (+40), and in June and September 2019.