SWS: Jobless Filipinos soar to 10.9 million in Q1 of 2018

MANILA, Philippines — The number of unemployed Filipinos soared to 10.9 million individuals in the first three months of the year, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The SWS poll, fielded from March 23 to 27, found adult joblessness at 23.9 percent or about 10.9 million individuals at least 18 years old.

This was 8.2 points above the 15.7 percent or an estimated 7.2 million adults in December 2017 and the highest since the 25.1 percent in December 2016.

Unemployed adults included those who voluntarily left their old jobs at 12.6 percent (about 5.8 million people), those who involuntarily lost their jobs at 7.7 percent (around 3.5 million) and first-time jobseekers at 3.5 percent (an estimated 1.6 million).

Those who resigned or left their old jobs voluntarily rose from 8.3 percent in December 2017 to 12.6 percent in March 2018.

Those who were retrenched increased by 1.8 points, from 5.9 percent to 7.7 percent.

The 7.7 percent who were retrenched consisted of 3.9 percent whose previous contracts were not renewed, 2.2 percent who were laid off and 1.7 percent whose employers closed operations.

The proportion of first-time job seekers increased from 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent.

SWS said unemployment rose in all areas except Metro Manila.

In balance Luzon, adult joblessness rose by 12.1 points from 16 percent in December last year to 28.1 percent in March 2018. It was 23.4 percent in March 2017.

In the Visayas, it rose by 6.3 points from 15.3 percent to 21.6 percent. It was 18.2 percent in March 2017.

In Mindanao, adult joblessness likewise grew by 7.6 points from 13.2 percent to 20.8 percent in March. It was 24.9 percent in March 2017.

Adult unemployment, however, slightly dropped in the National Capital Region from 19.5 percent in December 2017 to a record low 19 percent in March. It was 24.9 percent in March 2017.

In urban areas, adult unemployment went up by 5.6 points from 17.2 percent in December 2017 to 22.8 percent in March 2018. It was 20.9 percent in March 2017.

It also rose in rural areas from 14.6 percent to 24.8 percent in March 2018. This was similar to the 24.6 percent recorded in March 2017.

Joblessness among men increased from 7.6 percent in December 2017 to 16.1 percent in March 2018, the highest since March 2017’s 16.6 percent.

Among women, adult joblessness increased by 7.2 points from 26.7 percent in the last quarter of 2017 to 33.9 in March 2018. This was the highest since the 40.2 percent in December 2016.

Unemployment increased among all age groups, SWS said.

It rose by 8.1 points among 18- to 24-year-olds, from 45 percent in December 2017 to 53.1 percent in March 2018. 

It increased among 25- to 34-year-olds, from 23.9 percent to 26.6 percent.

It also rose by 6.7 points among 35- to 44-year-olds, from 10.7 percent in December 2017 to 17.4 percent in March 2018.

It likewise soared among 45 years old and above, from 8.5 percent to 17.4 percent. This was similar to the 17 percent in March 2017.

Meanwhile, optimism that there will be more jobs decreased by four points from 53 percent in December 2017 to 49 percent in March 2018.

Those who expect there will be fewer jobs (pessimists) remained at 12 percent.

The proportion of those who say there will be no change in job availability rose by a point from 24 percent in December 2017 to 25 percent in March 2018.

This resulted in a net optimism score of +37, classified by SWS as “very good” from an “excellent” +41 in December last year.

The SWS non-commissioned poll has a total of 1,200 respondents nationwide.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that over 19,000 jobseekers participated in the government-initiated job fairs in different regions nationwide.

As of 1 p.m yesterday, DOLE said they have recorded a total of 19,045 job applicants.

Of the figure, DOLE said 5,114 have qualified and 1,195 applicants were hired on the spot.

DOLE said a majority or 13,828 applied for local jobs while 3,054 want to work abroad.– With Mayen Jaymalin