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Advocates Philippines
PH Marks Increase In Employment Rate
Photo credit: DPWH
The latest Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals that the employment rate in the country for April 2023 reached an estimated 95.5 percent. This figure indicates a positive trend in the labor market, reflecting an increase in the number of employed Filipinos aged 15 years old and over.
According to the report, there were 48.06 million employed individuals in April 2023, marking a rise from 45.63 million in the same period of 2022. This increase in employment is seen as a significant boost to the country's economic development.
In contrast, the number of unemployed persons decreased to 2.26 million, reflecting an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. This is a notable improvement compared to the 5.7 percent unemployment rate recorded in April 2022. The decline in unemployment suggests improved job prospects and opportunities for individuals seeking employment.
The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which measures the proportion of the population either employed or actively seeking work, increased to 65.1 percent in April 2023. This translates to approximately 50.31 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and over who were part of the labor force.
The report also provides insights into the underemployment situation in the country. The number of underemployed persons, defined as those who desire additional work hours or a new job with longer hours, stood at 6.20 million. This corresponds to an underemployment rate of 12.9 percent, which is lower than the rates recorded in April 2022 and January 2023.
Analyzing the data by gender, the report indicates that the labor force participation rate among males was higher at 75.4 percent compared to females at 54.7 percent.
However, the employment rate for females was slightly higher at 96.0 percent compared to males at 95.2 percent. The underemployment rate among males was also higher than that of females.
In terms of industries, the services sector continued to dominate the labor market, accounting for 61.1 percent of the total employed persons in April 2023. The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 21.9 percent and 17.0 percent, respectively.
The report highlights specific sub-sectors that contributed to the increase in employment from April 2022 to April 2023. The top five sub-sectors with the highest increase in the number of employed persons were wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, accommodation and food service activities, administrative and support service activities, transportation and storage, and other service activities.
Conversely, some sub-sectors experienced declines in employment during the same period, including agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, as well as activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies.
The report also sheds light on the distribution of employment types, revealing that wage and salary workers accounted for the largest share at 61.5 percent. Self-employed individuals without paid employees followed at 27.5 percent, while unpaid family workers accounted for 8.5 percent.
Among wage and salary workers, those employed in private establishments represented 47.6 percent of the total employed, followed by those employed in government or government-controlled corporations at 9.2 percent.
On average, employed persons worked 36.9 hours per week in April 2023, a decrease compared to the hours worked in April 2022 and January 2023.
Looking at regional variations, Region II had the highest employment rate at 97.6 percent, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region IX, MIMAROPA, and Region XIII. However, five regions posted unemployment rates higher than the national rate of 4.5 percent, namely Region IV-A, National Capital Region, Region X, Region VII, and Region III.
Youth employment rate in April 2023 was reported at 90.0 percent, higher than the rates recorded in April 2022 and January 2023. The proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) decreased to 10.3 percent, indicating positive trends in youth engagement in the workforce.
The latest Labor Force Survey provides valuable insights into the employment situation in the Philippines for April 2023. The increase in the employment rate and the decline in the unemployment rate are positive indicators for the country's economy, suggesting improved job opportunities and labor market conditions.
According to the report, there were 48.06 million employed individuals in April 2023, marking a rise from 45.63 million in the same period of 2022. This increase in employment is seen as a significant boost to the country's economic development.
In contrast, the number of unemployed persons decreased to 2.26 million, reflecting an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. This is a notable improvement compared to the 5.7 percent unemployment rate recorded in April 2022. The decline in unemployment suggests improved job prospects and opportunities for individuals seeking employment.
The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), which measures the proportion of the population either employed or actively seeking work, increased to 65.1 percent in April 2023. This translates to approximately 50.31 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and over who were part of the labor force.
The report also provides insights into the underemployment situation in the country. The number of underemployed persons, defined as those who desire additional work hours or a new job with longer hours, stood at 6.20 million. This corresponds to an underemployment rate of 12.9 percent, which is lower than the rates recorded in April 2022 and January 2023.
Analyzing the data by gender, the report indicates that the labor force participation rate among males was higher at 75.4 percent compared to females at 54.7 percent.
However, the employment rate for females was slightly higher at 96.0 percent compared to males at 95.2 percent. The underemployment rate among males was also higher than that of females.
In terms of industries, the services sector continued to dominate the labor market, accounting for 61.1 percent of the total employed persons in April 2023. The agriculture and industry sectors accounted for 21.9 percent and 17.0 percent, respectively.
The report highlights specific sub-sectors that contributed to the increase in employment from April 2022 to April 2023. The top five sub-sectors with the highest increase in the number of employed persons were wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, accommodation and food service activities, administrative and support service activities, transportation and storage, and other service activities.
Conversely, some sub-sectors experienced declines in employment during the same period, including agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply, as well as activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies.
The report also sheds light on the distribution of employment types, revealing that wage and salary workers accounted for the largest share at 61.5 percent. Self-employed individuals without paid employees followed at 27.5 percent, while unpaid family workers accounted for 8.5 percent.
Among wage and salary workers, those employed in private establishments represented 47.6 percent of the total employed, followed by those employed in government or government-controlled corporations at 9.2 percent.
On average, employed persons worked 36.9 hours per week in April 2023, a decrease compared to the hours worked in April 2022 and January 2023.
Looking at regional variations, Region II had the highest employment rate at 97.6 percent, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region IX, MIMAROPA, and Region XIII. However, five regions posted unemployment rates higher than the national rate of 4.5 percent, namely Region IV-A, National Capital Region, Region X, Region VII, and Region III.
Youth employment rate in April 2023 was reported at 90.0 percent, higher than the rates recorded in April 2022 and January 2023. The proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) decreased to 10.3 percent, indicating positive trends in youth engagement in the workforce.
The latest Labor Force Survey provides valuable insights into the employment situation in the Philippines for April 2023. The increase in the employment rate and the decline in the unemployment rate are positive indicators for the country's economy, suggesting improved job opportunities and labor market conditions.
Jun 9, 2023
