Philippines Unemployment Improves, 4.6 Million Remain Jobless

Unemployment in July was reported to be at 10.0%, a significant improvement from April where unemployment was reported at 17.7% during the peak of the enhanced lockdown and slowed economic activity.

Claire Dennis Mapa, national statistician, said “10% of 4.6 milyong Pilipino nasa labor force ay walang trabaho o negosyo noong nakaraang July 2020. Ang 10% unemployment rate ay mas mataas ng 2.2 million kaysa bilang ng July 2019 na nasa 2.4 million,” Mapa said.

(The 10% of 4.6 million Filipinos in the labor force are jobless as of July 2020. The 10% unemployment rate is higher by 2.2 million versus 2.4 million in July 2019)

Cielito Habito, Former Philippine Economic Planning Secretary, said “I was expecting this precisely because the economy has somewhat opened up. That meant that a lot of people were able to go back to work even partially so I was quite sure that the numbers would be improving,”

Habito added “It’s not something to celebrate about because it’s still in double digits in the aggregate but there’s silver lining that we’re seeing here,”

The Labor Force Participation, or individuals in the labor force, is at 61.9% or 45.9 million, as of July.

The National Capital Region posted the highest unemployment rate at 15.8% or 929,000 jobless workers.