Gov’t vows more ‘high-quality’ jobs for Filipinos
On Tuesday, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released a survey which showed that adult joblessness eased to 17.5 percent in December 2019 which is equivalent to 7.9 million adults. (Pixabay Photo)
MANILA — The government vowed to create more “high-quality” jobs for Filipinos after a survey showed that there were fewer jobless Filipinos in the fourth quarter of 2019.
“We commit to continue creating an environment conducive to growth that generates more high-quality jobs to the greatest number of Filipinos,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released a survey which showed that adult joblessness eased to 17.5 percent in December 2019 which is equivalent to 7.9 million adults.
This figure is a 4-point decline in adult joblessness rate from 21.5 percent in September 2019 or 10 million adults.
Panelo welcomed the survey result, which also found urban joblessness in December 2019 as the lowest in 15 years at 15.3 percent.
“The Palace welcomes the latest results of a survey by the Social Weather Stations showing a drop in adult joblessness from 21.5 percent in September 2019 to 17.
5 percent in December 2019,” Panelo said in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the Duterte administration recognizes the importance of the country’s labor as a means of improving the overall standard of living of Filipinos.
He also emphasized the importance of attracting domestic and foreign investments as key to a vibrant labor market and progressive economy.
In December last year, Panelo described the Philippine labor market under the Duterte administration as “vibrant” citing positive development in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, construction, education, accommodation and food service activities, and public administration and defense, and agriculture, particularly fishing and aquaculture.
Panelo said economic growth has become “robust, sustainable, and inclusive” due to Duterte’s independent foreign policy direction which allowed more foreign direct investments and ultimately provided Filipinos with more jobs.
He also assured that the government would provide better knowledge and skills training to the public as part of efforts to strengthen the labor market.
The SWS survey, fielded from December 13 to 16, found a 4-point decline in the national joblessness rate due to decreases in the joblessness rate in Metro Manila (10 points) and Balance Luzon (8 points). Joblessness, however, increased in Visayas (4 points) and Mindanao (1 point).
It found a higher adult jobless rate among women than men at 30.8 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.
The pollster also found that adult joblessness rose by 2 points among the 35-44 age group but fell among other age groups.
On the other hand, it fell by 13 points among the 18-24 age group, 10 points among the 25-34 age group, and 2 points among those aged 45 years and above.
