Back-to-back storms undercut jobs growth in October - PSA

Metro Manila, Philippines – Successive storms had contributed to higher unemployment numbers in October, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

On Friday, Dec. 6., the agency said the jobless rate stood at 3.9%, higher than the 3.7% logged in September. The number translates to 1.97 million Filipinos without jobs.

The rate, however, is tamer than October last year’s 4.2% jobless rate.

This means the proportion of employed Filipinos to total population in October stood at 96.1%, translating to 48.16 million.

Labor force participation, meanwhile, shrank to 63.3% compared to 65.7% in September.

In a press briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the consecutive cyclones hurt jobs.

“May mga kababayan tayo na hindi nakahanap ng trabaho o ‘di kaya, hindi sila nag-participate sa labor market because of the typhoon. At kung i-check natin, tatlong malalakas ng bagyo ang nakita natin noong Oktubre,” Mapa said.

[Translation: We had countrymen who were unable to find work or, perhaps, did not participate in the labor market because of the typhoon. We saw three strong typhoons last October]

Mapa said Calabarzon recorded the highest jobless rate in October at 5.7%. Five other regions including Metro Manila and Mimaropa also reported unemployment numbers higher than the national average.

The PSA said a similar trend may be expected in November because of successive storms that hit the country.

“Hopefully by December ay clear na tayo. Kasi ang activities naman kasi natin sa Disyembre kadalasan ay mga retail trade, accommodation and food services activities. Ang nakikita namin may pagtaas tayong makikita doon,” said Mapa.

[Translation: Hopefully by December, we’ll be clear. Because the activities we usually have in December are retail trade, accommodation, and food services. What we’re seeing is that there will likely be an increase (in employment) in those sectors]

More underemployed Filipinos

Meanwhile, the number of underemployed Filipinos, or those looking for extra work hours to earn more climbed to 6.08 million from 5.94 million in September. Underemployment rate was higher year-on-year, jumping from 11.7% in 2023 to 12.6% this year.

Mapa said annual underemployment rates were most significant in the sectors of agriculture and forestry, retail trade, and manufacturing.

“Sa year-on-year increase na 486,000, which is significant in terms of numbers, ang nag-contribute nang malaki ay iyong invisible underemployed na 350,000…Ito iyong mga underemployed persons, kino-konsider nila underemployed sila at nagta-trabaho sila ng more than 40 hours,” he said.

[Translation: Of the year-on-year increase of 486,000, which is significant, the largest contribution came from the invisible underemployed, which is 350,000... These are underemployed persons who consider themselves underemployed and are working more than 40 hours]

Based on PSA data, 10 regions recorded an underemployment rate higher than the national average in October.