Philippine jobless number crosses 12 million
Despite GDP growth of 7.2 per cent in 2013, the number of unemployed Filipinos in the last quarter of 2013 swelled dramatically. The jobless rate rose to 27.5 per cent, or an estimated 12.1 million individuals, as many young Filipinos, among them graduates, joined the ranks of the jobless between September and December, a a Social Weather Stations survey found.
A survey by another polling outfit, Pulse Asia, found that 55 per cent of Filipinos felt the national quality of life deteriorated in the past 12 months. They also expected the situation to remain the same for the whole of 2014.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda pointed to some calamities that hit the country last year to help “explain” why unemployment rate increased to 27.5 per cent at the end of 2013. Lacierda cited Typhoon Haiyan which devastated central Philippines in November 2013, and the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu provinces a month earlier.
According to the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration, some six million workers saw their livelihood destroyed or disrupted as a result of the typhoon.
“Certainly, it’s very unfortunate that these things happened, but we have to rise up. The government has a role to play in providing for its people,” he said.
Despite the increase in the unemployment rate, Lacierda said the government would “continue to ensure that our people find employment.”
The latest jobless rate, however, was below the 34.4 per cent posted in March 2012, but has mostly remained over 20 per cent since May 2005. It was under 15 per cent from 1993 to March 2004, and was within 16.5% to 19 per cent from August 2004 to March 2005.
Despite GDP growth of 7.2 per cent in 2013, the number of unemployed Filipinos in the last quarter of 2013 swelled dramatically. The jobless rate rose to 27.5 per cent, or an estimated 12.1 million individuals, as many young Filipinos, among them graduates, joined the ranks of the jobless between September and December, a a Social Weather Stations survey found. A survey by another polling outfit, Pulse Asia, found that 55 per cent of Filipinos felt the national quality of life deteriorated in the past 12 months. They also expected the situation to remain the same for the whole of...
Despite GDP growth of 7.2 per cent in 2013, the number of unemployed Filipinos in the last quarter of 2013 swelled dramatically. The jobless rate rose to 27.5 per cent, or an estimated 12.1 million individuals, as many young Filipinos, among them graduates, joined the ranks of the jobless between September and December, a a Social Weather Stations survey found.
A survey by another polling outfit, Pulse Asia, found that 55 per cent of Filipinos felt the national quality of life deteriorated in the past 12 months. They also expected the situation to remain the same for the whole of 2014.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda pointed to some calamities that hit the country last year to help “explain” why unemployment rate increased to 27.5 per cent at the end of 2013. Lacierda cited Typhoon Haiyan which devastated central Philippines in November 2013, and the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol and Cebu provinces a month earlier.
According to the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration, some six million workers saw their livelihood destroyed or disrupted as a result of the typhoon.
“Certainly, it’s very unfortunate that these things happened, but we have to rise up. The government has a role to play in providing for its people,” he said.
Despite the increase in the unemployment rate, Lacierda said the government would “continue to ensure that our people find employment.”
The latest jobless rate, however, was below the 34.4 per cent posted in March 2012, but has mostly remained over 20 per cent since May 2005. It was under 15 per cent from 1993 to March 2004, and was within 16.5% to 19 per cent from August 2004 to March 2005.
