Philippines – Unemployment falls to 26.6% in Social Weather Stations’ survey

Unemployment in the country dropped from an estimate of 13.8 million individuals in the first quarter to 10.9 million individuals in the second quarter, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey, conducted from May 24 to 27 and first published in Business World, showed that the number of jobless adults fell from 34.4 percent in March to 26.6 percent this May.

However, data from SWS also showed that unemployment remained above 15 percent since August 2004.

The survey also showed that respondents’ opinions were split regarding the the availability of jobs in the next 12 months.

Unemployment figures included those who were retrenched (from 13 percent to 11 percent), resigned from their jobs (from 15 percent to 10 percent), or first time jobseekers (from 6 percent to 5 percent).

The SWS definition of unemployment covers respondents aged 18 and above who are “without a current job and looking for a job.” This excludes those not looking for work such as housewives, students and retired or disabled persons.

This definition is different from the official definition of the National Statistical Coordination Board which covers all persons who are 15 years and over and are reported as: Without work and currently available for work and seeking work; or without work and currently available for work but not seeking work.

The government’s own Labor Force Survey (LFS) in April showed an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent, slightly down from the 7.2 percent recorded the previous year…

via Unemployment falls to 26.6% in SWS survey | Inquirer News.

Read also : Unemployment rate falls sharply in May | ABS-CBN News.