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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOLE happy to attain 2nd lowest unemployment rate in COVID era

DOLE happy to attain 2nd lowest unemployment rate in COVID era

Published Jul 1, 2021 04:28 pm

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III has welcomed the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) results wherein the country posted its second lowest unemployment rate in the time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III (File photo/ Screengrab from Zoom meeting)

"We are heartened by the results of the latest Labor Force Survey where we registered the second lowest unemployment rate, to date, during the period of this pandemic," Bello said in a statement Thursday, July 1.

Bello said a total of 1.477 million workers were added to the total number of employed persons compared to April 2021 survey figures.

Bello noted that the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent---representing 3.730 million jobless Filipinos--in May 2021 from 8.7 percent (4.138 million) in the previous month.

The unemployment rate stood at 7.1 percent (3.441 million) in March 2021, the lowest since the start of the public health crisis in March 2020.

"Moreover, the May 2021 LFS results reported the lowest underemployment at 5.492 million (12.3 percent) since April 2020 (6.388 million or 18.9 percent)," the DOLE chief said.

"With the continuous rollout of the vaccination program, we anticipate less humps and bumps on the road to recovery," Bello said.

He said the signing of Executive Order (EO) No.140 on the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) as the government’s master plan for the recovery of the country’s labor market, and institutionalization of the 20-agency strong NERS Task Force (TF) will also boost DOLE's efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The convergence of key agencies in the NERS Task Force is expected to contribute at least 220,000 jobs and assist over 1.4 million Filipinos struggling with unemployment and income losses. Moreover, the private sector has committed the creation of one million jobs for 2021 which is a welcome contribution in our effort to recover lost employment because of this pandemic," Bello said.

"We continue to be one with the economic managers in safely reopening the economy, backing much needed support for businesses through available incentives, providing platform for jobseekers to facilitate their access to employment, and supporting our workers through upskilling and retooling initiatives that will help them thrive in the New Normal," he added.

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70121 second covid-19 LOWEST Unemployment rate Labor Force Survey dole
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