By Brian Jules Campued
The decline in the number of unemployed Filipinos indicates the growing economy in the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said that DOLE recognized the latest Labor Force Survey results of the Philippine Statistics Authority which showed a lower unemployment rate of 4.5% in January 2024 compared to the 4.8% recorded in the same month last year.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), this jobless rate corresponded to about 2.150 million individuals in January this year from the reported number of unemployed persons of 2.378 million in January 2023—a 228-million decrease.
“Ang pagbabang ito ay napakalaking bagay at pagpapatunay ng patuloy na paglakas ng ating ekonomiya. Ang kasalukuyang unemployment rate ay nananatiling nasa loob ng 4-5% target alinsunod sa Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” he added.
Laguesma stressed that the PSA report can be attributed to various factors that affect the changes in the field of work and employment.
“Una, ang 37.44% ng kabuuang walang hanapbuhay sa huling tala ay mga kabataan edad 15-24, na kung ating susuriin ay maaaring bumalik na sa mga paaralan. Kaya naman ito ay maituturing na isa sa mga dahilan ng pagbaba ng labor force participation rate,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Laguesma reiterated that pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028, and the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act”, DOLE continues to implement programs that would assist investors and micro, small, and medium enterprises as well as enhance workers’ skills.
Youth employability programs such as the Special Program for Employment of Students, Government Internship Program, and JobStart Philippines are also being widely implemented by its regional offices.
Also part of the assistance provided by DOLE are programs for people who want to start businesses that can help their families and communities, Laguesma added.
“Kaya naman ating inaanyayahan ang lahat na mag-rehistro sa ating PhilJobNet (https://philjobnet.gov.ph) o maaring magpunta sa pinakamalapit na Public Employment Service Office o PESO sa inyong mga lokal na pamahalaan para sa mga mahalaga at kapaki-pakinabang na impormasyon ukol sa mga bakanteng trabaho na matatagpuan malapit sa inyong lugar,” the Labor chief said.
Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act
Meanwhile, Laguesma along with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo have also signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the TPB Act at the NEDA Central Office in Mandaluyong City.
In a news release, Laguesma said the IRR signing will help harness the full potential of the country’s workforce through collaborative efforts from stakeholders under a “whole of government, whole of society approach”.
“Ito pong nasabing batas ay mayroon talagang pagkilala doon sa prinsipyo ng tripartism, consultation, at social dialogue. Pagpapatunay po ay bahagi ng council ang kinatawan ng marginalized at vulnerable sector, informal sector, labor organization, at employers’ organization,” he remarked.
Signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in September last year, the TPB Act aims to increase the income-earning ability of Filipinos by strengthening employability, improving employment quality, and establishing shared labor market governance. – avds