SWS: Adult joblessness down in Q1 2023
Published May 24, 2023 11:54 pm
A nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found that adult joblessness was down in the first quarter of 2023, but the recovery to pre-pandemic levels is “still incomplete.”
According to the March 2023 survey results released on Wednesday night, May 24, SWS said that 19 percent of the adult labor force is unemployed.
“This was 2.3 points below the 21.3 percent in December 2022 and seven points below the 26 percent in April 2022. However, it was still 1.5 points above the 17.5 percent in December 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic,” it said.
SWS defines the labor force as adults, 18 years and above, who are presently with a job plus those looking for a job.
It estimated the number of jobless Filipinos at 8.7 million in March 2023 and at 9.6 million in December 2022.
SWS said the jobless consist of 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.
Joblessness falls in all areas except in Mindanao; higher among women than men
SWS said adult joblessness was highest in Balance Luzon at 21.7 percent, followed by Mindanao at 19 percent, Metro Manila at 17.5 percent, and the Visayas at 13.5 percent. It noted that compared to December 2022, the quarterly joblessness fell from 24.8 percent in Metro Manila, 23.1 percent in Balance Luzon, and 18.6 percent in the Visayas. However, it hardly moved from 18.1 percent to 19 percent in Mindanao. SWS also pointed out that joblessness stayed higher among women at 30.2 percent than among men at 11.6 percent. “Compared to December 2022, joblessness fell from 15.2 percent among men while it hardly moved from 29.7 percent among women,” it saidJoblessness highest among 18-to-24-year-olds
SWS also found that joblessness was highest among the 18-to-24-year-olds at 36 percent, followed by the 25-to-34-year-olds at 23.8 percent, 45 years old and above at 15.9 percent, and the 35-to-44-year-olds at 11.7 percent. “Compared to December 2022, joblessness fell from 46.7 percent among the 18-to-24-year-olds, 25.1 percent among the 25-to-34-year-olds, and 20.6 percent among the 35-to-44-year-olds. However, it rose from 12.7 percent among those 45 years old and above,” it said. Meanwhile, SWS said joblessness was higher in urban areas at 21.6 percent than in rural areas at 14.6 percent. It noted that compared to December 2022, joblessness fell from 21.2 percent in rural areas, while it “hardly moved” from 21.3 percent in urban areas. “This widened the urban-rural joblessness gap from 0.1 points to 7.0 points. The urban-rural joblessness gap was double-digit in only 10 out of 117 surveys since September 1993,” SWS pointed out.Joblessness highest among junior HS graduates
The March 2023 survey also found adult joblessness to be highest among junior high school graduates at 23.3 percent, followed by elementary graduates at 17.8 percent, non-elementary graduates at 11.6 percent, and college graduates at 10.5 percent. “Compared to December 2022, joblessness fell from 22.9 percent among college graduates, 19.9 percent among elementary graduates, and 15.9 percent among non-elementary graduates. It hardly changed from 22.6 percent among junior high school graduates,” SWS said. The First Quarter 2023 SWS survey was conducted from March 26-29 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of +/-2.8 percent for national percentages and +/-5.7 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.