A nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found that adult joblessness was at 21.3 percent of the labor force in the last quarter of 2022.
“This hardly moved from 18.6 percent in October 2022 and 20.8 percent in June 2022. However, it was below the 26.0 percent in April 2022,” SWS said in a statement released on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
The estimated numbers of jobless are 9.6 million in December 2022 and 8.8 million in October 2022.
SWS conducted the survey from Dec. 10 to 14, 2022 with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide.
“The resulting 21.7 percent average for 2022 was 4.0 points below the 25.7 percent average for 2021 and 15.7 points below the record-high 37.4 percent average for 2020. However, it was 1.9 points above the 19.8 percent average of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic,” it pointed out.
SWS defines labor force as adults, 18 years and above, presently with a job plus those looking for a job.
Moreover, it defines jobless as those who voluntarily left their old jobs, are seeking jobs for the first time, or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.
2022 joblessness average falls in all areas except in Mindanao
According to SWS, as of December 2022, adult joblessness stayed highest in Metro Manila at 24.8 percent, followed by Balance Luzon at 23.1 percent, the Visayas at 18.6 percent, and Mindanao at 18.1 percent.
This brings the area averages for 2022 to 25.8 percent in Metro Manila, 23.8 percent in Balance Luzon, 17.0 percent in the Visayas, and 19.0 percent in Mindanao.
SWS pointed out that compared to 2021, the annual average joblessness fell from 35 percent in Metro Manila, 27.8 percent in Balance Luzon, and 22.5 percent in the Visayas. However, it stayed at 19 percent in Mindanao.
Annual average joblessness falls among women, men, all age groups
As of December 2022, SWS said that joblessness stayed higher among women at 29.7 percent than among men at 15.2 percent.
“This brings the women-men joblessness gap to 14.5 points, hardly moving from 16.2 points in October 2022,” it noted.
“The resulting average for 2022 was 30.3 percent among women and 15.5 percent among men. Compared to 2021, the annual average joblessness fell from 32.5 among women and 21.0 percent among men,” SWS said.
It also noted that as in past surveys, the joblessness rate remains highest among the youngest age group.
As of December 2022, adult joblessness was highest among the 18-to-24-year-olds at 46.7 percent, followed by the 25-to-34-year-olds at 25.1 percent, the 35-to-44-year-olds at 20.6 percent, and those 45 years old and above at 12.7 percent.
“The resulting average for 2022 was 48.5 percent among the 18-to-24-year-olds, 25.8 percent among the 25-to-34-year-olds, 20.8 percent among the 35-to-44-year-olds, and 14.5 percent among those 45 years old and above,” SWS said.
“Compared to 2021, the annual average joblessness fell from 54 percent among the 18-to-24-year-olds, 30.5 percent among the 25-to-34-year-olds, 22 percent among the 35-to-44-year-olds, and 18 percent among those 45 years old and above.
Annual average joblessness falls in urban, rural areas
In the December 2022 survey, SWS also found that joblessness hardly varied by locale. It was 23.3 percent in urban areas and 21.2 percent in rural areas.
“This brings the urban-rural joblessness gap to 0.1 points, down from 8.0 points in October 2022. The urban-rural joblessness gap was double-digit in only 10 out of 116 surveys since September 1993,” SWS said.
“The resulting average for 2022 was 23.3 percent in urban areas and 20.3% in rural areas. Compared to 2021, the annual average joblessness fell from 29.0 percent in urban areas and 22.8% in rural areas,” it added.
2022 average joblessness slightly falls among college, junior HS graduates
SWS said that as of December 2022, adult joblessness was highest among college graduates at 22.9 percent, followed by junior high school graduates at 22.6 percent, elementary graduates at 19.9 percent, and non-elementary graduates at 15.9 percent.
“This brings the averages for 2022 to 22.0 percent among college graduates, 24.3 percent among junior high school graduates, 20.0 percent among elementary graduates, and 14.3 percent among non-elementary graduates,” it said.
“Compared to 2021, the annual average joblessness fell slightly from 26.8 percent among college graduates and 29.8 percent among junior high school graduates. However, it hardly changed from 22.5 percent among elementary graduates and 15.0 percent among non-elementary graduates,” it added.