The Philippine Statistics Authority said that the number of jobless Filipinos increased in December, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the preliminary results from the December 2022 Labor Force Survey, it showed that there were 2.22 million unemployed persons who are aged 15 and above during the month.

This is an equivalent to an unemployment rate of 4.3%.

The PSA also said that the figure is higher than the 2.18 million unemployed Filipinos in November.

During the said time the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%, however it is lower than the 3.28 million jobless Filipinos in December 2021 when the unemployment rate was 6.6%.

Likewise, the labor force participation rate for the month is at 66.4% or 51.22 million individuals. It is lower than the 67.5% recorded in the previous month for the same year.

Meanwhile, the employment rate for the month fell to 95.7% or 49 million Filipinos from 95.8% in November or 49.71 million employed Filipinos, but increased from 93.4% in December 2021 when there were 46.27 million employed individuals.

According to the PSA the services continue to be the leading factor for employment with 58.9% or 28.86 million individuals.

This is followed by the industry sector with 17.1% or 8.38 million individuals, and the agriculture sector with 24.0% or 11.76 million.

On the other hand, the industries posted the biggest year-on-year declines in employment. Among them include human health and social work activities down by 306,000; agriculture and forestry by 225,000; public administration and defense by 88,000; real estate activities by 71,000; and professional, scientific, and technical activities by 32,000.

On the flipside, the largest year-on-year increase is said to be at wholesale and retail trade. It is now at 993,000; followed by other service activities up by 563,000; administration and support service activities by 513,000; accommodation and food service by 470,000; and transportation and storage by 275,000.

CurrentPH News Service