SWS: 27.3 million Filipinos jobless as of July
Photo Credit: Social Weather Station Official Website
A recent survey by the Social Weather Station showed that 45.5% (27.3 million) of the country’s labor force is jobless.
This is a 28-point increase from 17.5% (7.9 million) in December 2019, and a new record-high since the 34.4% recorded in March 2012.
Of the 45.5% jobless, 21% lost their job or livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic. The other 21% lost their job or livelihood before the crisis and the rest never had a job or livelihood before the interview.
The proportion of those who lost their job or livelihood during the COVID-19 crisis is highest in the rest of Luzon (23%), followed by the Visayas (19%), Mindanao (19%), and Metro Manila (18%).
Adult joblessness rose among women from 30.8% in December 2019 to 55.8% in July. It also rose among men, from 8.3% in December 2019 to 35.8% in July.
Adult joblessness rose among:
- 18-24 year-olds, from 31.8% in December 2019 to 63.4% in July
- 25-34 year-olds, from 20.7% to 48.8%
- 35-44 year-olds, from 19.2% to 41.9%
- 45 years old and above, from 11.8% to 39.7%
SWS defines the Labor Force as persons 18 years and above presently with a job or looking for a job. Adults who are jobless consists of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, who are seeking jobs for the first time, or who lost their jobs because of economic circumstances beyond their control.
The probability-based survey was conducted from July 3-6 using mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) of 1,555 adult Filipinos nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±2% for national percentages.
This is a 28-point increase from 17.5% (7.9 million) in December 2019, and a new record-high since the 34.4% recorded in March 2012.
Of the 45.5% jobless, 21% lost their job or livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic. The other 21% lost their job or livelihood before the crisis and the rest never had a job or livelihood before the interview.
The proportion of those who lost their job or livelihood during the COVID-19 crisis is highest in the rest of Luzon (23%), followed by the Visayas (19%), Mindanao (19%), and Metro Manila (18%).
Adult joblessness rose among women from 30.8% in December 2019 to 55.8% in July. It also rose among men, from 8.3% in December 2019 to 35.8% in July.
Adult joblessness rose among:
- 18-24 year-olds, from 31.8% in December 2019 to 63.4% in July
- 25-34 year-olds, from 20.7% to 48.8%
- 35-44 year-olds, from 19.2% to 41.9%
- 45 years old and above, from 11.8% to 39.7%
SWS defines the Labor Force as persons 18 years and above presently with a job or looking for a job. Adults who are jobless consists of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, who are seeking jobs for the first time, or who lost their jobs because of economic circumstances beyond their control.
The probability-based survey was conducted from July 3-6 using mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) of 1,555 adult Filipinos nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±2% for national percentages.
