Push Admin

Linemen clear electrical cables at Ongpin Street corner Quintin Paredes in Binondo, Manila on August 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

20230803-electric-post-collapse-ongpin-JC-18.jpg

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/20230803-electric-post-collapse-ongpin-JC-18.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Linemen clear electrical cables at Ongpin Street corner Quintin Paredes in Binondo, Manila on August 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner">Linemen clear electrical cables at Ongpin Street corner Quintin Paredes in Binondo, Manila on August 3, 2023. <br/><em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) - The Philippines unemployment rate fell in December 2023 but underemployment went up, the state statistics bureau said on Wednesday.</p><p>More workers also joined the labor force, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.</p><p>The jobless rate fell to 3.1 percent in December, which was lower than the 3.6 percent in November, and the 4.3 percent rate seen in December 2022, the PSA said citing the results of its latest labor force survey.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/2/6/inflation-eases-to-2-8-percent-in-january-903" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Inflation eases to 2.8 percent in January</a></div><p>This corresponded to 1.6 million jobless workers in December, which was lower than the 1.83 million unemployed in the preceding month, and the 2.22 million in December 2022.</p><p>Underemployment however edged up to 11.9 percent in December from 11.7 percent in November, but this was still lower compared to the 12.6 percent rate seen in December 2022.</p><p>Underemployed workers are those who already have jobs but are looking for additional work hours or extra jobs. Based on the PSA’s study, there were 6.01 million underemployed Filipino workers in December last year.</p><p>Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa noted that youth employment was up, but so was underemployment.</p><p>“Youth employment rate increased to 91.8 percent from 90.5 percent in December 2022 and 91.0 percent in November 2023. Among the youth employed, 11.6 percent were underemployed. This was higher than the 9.2 percent and 11.3 percent underemployment rate in December 2022 and November 2023, respectively,” he said in a statement.</p><p>The services sector had the highest number of jobs, making up 57.3 percent of the total employment numbers, followed by agriculture at 24.4 percent and industry at 18.3 percent.</p><p>In terms of jobs added in the whole of 2023, construction was top at 777,000; followed by agriculture and forestry at 715,000; and accommodation and food services at 498,000.</p><p>Wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motorcycles and vehicles meanwhile posted the highest job losses at 660,000; followed by administrative and support services at 250,000; and fishing and aquaculture at 159,000.</p><p>Mapa said the drop in employment in wholesale and retail trade could be attributed to a slower growth in food consumption.</p><p>&quot;Ang karamihan dito ay nasa food sector. And if you recall yung ating GDP ng 4th quarter, ang ating household final consumption expenditure sa food sector ay mabagal ang pagtaas,&quot; he said.</p><p>Asked if this is connected to inflation, Mapa said, &quot;Yeah it’s possible because of the high price, so doon nakita natin as explained nung GDP natin na presscon na yung inflation may impact talaga doon sa food consumption.&quot;</p><p>Household final consumption grew year-on-year by 5.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/1/31/philippine-economy-grows-5-6-pct-in-2023-below-gov-t-target-1026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippine economy grows 5.6 pct in 2023, below gov&#x27;t target</a></div><p>Mapa said the government is optimistic about more Filipinos becoming employed in 2024.</p><p>&quot;May mga signals kami nakikita, it seems na yung confidence ng ating mga individuals na nasa labor force ay mataas, sabi ko nga kanina year-on-year bumaba yung bilang ng nagsasabi na no job available, kaya hindi sila nagpa-participate sa labor force,&quot; he explained.</p><p>&quot;Tumaas din yung nagsasabi they are waiting for the result of their previous job application. While it is not reported as employed right now, but because of that number na mataas, pwedeng ma-convert yun sa employment in the next month,&quot; he added.</p><p>National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan welcomed the lower unemployment rate.</p><p>&quot;We will continue ramping up social and physical infrastructure investments and dramatically improve human capital to strengthen our people’s employment prospects,” he said.</p><p>He also noted that job losses may be mitigated by increasing the use of digital technology across jobs.</p><p>“The government must ensure that innovation and digitalization become integral across all sectors,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Accelerating digitalization and improving connectivity through a more competitive and vibrant ICT sector can be a game changer, especially when considering the socioeconomic opportunities that can be created and multiplied for small business owners and those in far-flung areas,” he added.</p><p>He added that government should tweak education and training programs in order to upskill or reskill workers and promote a culture of innovation.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/09/24/unemployment-rate-falls-to-36-percent-in-november" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Unemployment rate falls to 3.6 percent in November</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/26/23/sws-69-percent-of-filipinos-say-its-hard-to-find-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SWS: 69 percent of Filipinos say it&#x27;s hard to find jobs</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Philippines unemployment rate fell in December 2023 but underemployment went up, the state statistics bureau said on Wednesday. </p>

The Philippines unemployment rate fell in December 2023 but underemployment went up, the state statistics bureau said on Wednesday.

Jobless rate falls in December, but underemployment edges up

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Business

Jobless rate falls in December, but underemployment edges up

ABS-CBN News

Published February 07, 2024 09:19 AM PHT

|

Updated February 07, 2024 12:47 PM PHT

Read More:

unemployment

jobless rate

underemployment

PSA

Dennis Mapa

labor force survey

ANC promo

youth unemployment

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.