The number of Filipinos without jobs decreased by five percent in April compared to the 4.5 percent recorded in the same month last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA reported that some 2.04 million Filipinos were out of jobs in April 2024, lower than the 2.25 million jobless in the same period last year.
The agency said the employment rate in the country increased to 96 percent in April 2024, from 95.5 percent in both April 2023 and January 2024.
The PSA said the number of employed persons in April 2024 was estimated at 48.36 million, higher than the number of employed persons in April 2023 at 48.06 million and in January 2024 at 45.94 million.
The country’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) in April 2024 was registered at 64.1 percent, lower than the estimated LFPR in April 2023 at 65.1 percent.
The underemployed rate in April 2024, on the other hand, went up by 14.6 percent from 12.9 percent in April last year.
“The government’s massive infrastructure push is expected to create opportunities in several priority sectors, such as energy, logistics, and tourism,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.
“The government will also explore opportunities for quality job growth in the mining sector, leveraging available technologies to develop value-adding activities such as mineral processing,” he added.
According to the latest PSA labor force survey, managers recieved hte highest average daily wage at P1,400 per day, followed by professionals who recieve a daily basic pay P1,222.00. Those employed in the armed forces earned the third highest daily wage basic pay at P1,208 while technicians and associate professionals came in fourth with P742.00. Clerical support workers ranked fifth with a daily basic wage pay of P728.00
On April 30, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Executive Order No. 59, which aims to expedite the implementation of the country’s Infrastructure Flagship Projects and improve the ease of doing business. This is expected to further encourage investments and job creation in the country.
The government is proactively improving the investment landscape to sustain labor market gains. For one, it is implementing measures to address bottlenecks and streamline processes, ensuring the efficient realization of investment pledges.
“Investing in human capital—improving education, healthcare, and social services— remains a top priority. The government is currently drafting the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, which will serve as the country’s comprehensive employment generation and recovery master plan. It aims to address unemployment, underemployment, informal working arrangements, and other labor market challenges,” Balisacan said.
Balisacan further stated that the TBP Plan focuses on enhancing the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders is also integral to the plan.
“The government aims to assist Filipino workers in the digital age. Initiatives include reducing job search duration, upskilling the workforce, and facilitating the transition towards higher-income jobs. The urgent passage of next-generation reforms, including the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, will play a crucial role in opening up more work opportunities and developing digital skills among the workforce,” Balisacan said.
