MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - More Filipinos experienced joblessness in the fourth quarter of 2014 with 27 percent of Filipinos, up from 22.9 percent in the third quarter, claiming to have no job at the time, according to a survey released today by the Social Weather Station (SWS).
The results of the survey, which involved 1,800 adult respondents nationwide, is the highest in 2014, though it hardly changed from the December 2013's fourth quarter result of 27.5 percent.
Joblessness in the March first quarter result was at 25.7 percent which barely moved to 25.9 percent in the June second quarter results and dropped to 22.9 percent in the September third quarter.
The SWS survey, done from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, define adult joblessness as those who have no job at present but had employment before and those who had never worked before.
Of the jobless, 14 percent said they voluntarily left their jobs while 6 percent said their contracts expired which was not renewed. Three percent said they never worked before while 2 percent each said they had either been laid off or their employer closed down.
Commenting on the SWS survey on Monday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said job creation and expansion of employment opportunities remains a top priority that is being pursued by the administration.
"Increasing the number of highly remunerative jobs that will tap the creativity and skills of our people is being emphasized," he added.