Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition has been adopted per NSCB Resolution Number 15 dated October 20, 2004. The new definition is presented in the Technical Notes of this report. For comparative purposes, the October 2009 results of the Labor Force Survey are presented in textual tables alongside the final estimates for the October 2008 survey round.
Six in ten of the population 15 years and over are in the labor force
Out of the estimated 59.7 million population 15 years old and over in October 2009, approximately 38.2 million persons were reported to be in the labor force. These figures placed the labor force participation rate (LFPR) at 64.0 percent as compared last year�s LFPR of 63.7 percent. Among the regions, Northern Mindanao registered the highest LFPR at 71.2 percent and the lowest was ARMM at 57.4 percent.
Employment rate is recorded at 92.9 percent
The employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to total labor force was estimated at 92.9 percent in October 2009. The employment rate in October last year was recorded at 93.2 percent.
Across regions, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) posted the highest employment rate of 98.1 percent, followed closely by Cagayan Valley and Zamboanga Peninsula, both registering an employment rate of 97.2 percent. The National Capital Region (NCR) had the lowest at 88.2 percent.
Employed males outnumber employed females
The number of employed persons was higher among males (61.2%) than among females (38.8%).
Around 17.0 percent of the total employed were males in age group 25 to 34 years. The female counterpart had a share of 9.6 percent to the total number of employed persons.
The 35 to 44 age group comprised the second largest employed male population with a share of 14.0 percent to the total number of employed persons. Female�s share was 9.1 percent.
More than half of the employed population are in the services sector
Of the estimated 35.5 million employed persons in October 2009, the services sector had the largest number of employed persons, getting more than half (51.4%) of the total employed population. The highest employed workforce in the services sector were in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods (6.9 million or 19.5% of total employed).
The agriculture sector had the second largest number of employed persons, accounting for 34.0 percent of the total employed. Only 14.5 percent of the total employed were in the industry sector.
One in three employed persons are laborers and unskilled workers
Among the various occupation groups, laborers and unskilled workers comprised the largest proportion (32.5%) of the total employed population. Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen were the second largest group, accounting for 16.4 percent of the total employed population.
Number of wage and salary workers increases
Employed persons fall into any of these three categories: wage and salary workers, own account workers, and unpaid family workers. Wage and salary workers are those who work for private households, private establishments, government or government corporations family operated farms or businesses. Majority (53.5%) of the total employed population in October 2009 were wage and salary workers, most of them (39.7%) worked for private establishments. Those working for the government or government controlled corporation accounted for only 8.1 percent. In October 2008, the wage and salary workers accounted for 51.9 percent. Own-account workers, which include the proprietors and self-employed workers constituted 34.5 percent of the total employed with self-employed workers having the larger share (30.5%). The share of unpaid family workers to total employed was 11.9 percent in October 2009.
More workers work full-time
Employed persons are classified as either full-time workers or part-time workers. Full-time workers are those who work for 40 hours or more while part-time workers work for less than 40 hours. Around 22.1 million employed persons (62.2%) were working full time in October 2009, while, 36.3 percent of total employed were part-time workers or worked for less than 40 hours.
Underemployment rate increases to 19.4 percent in October 2009 from 17.5 percent in October 2008
Employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours are considered underemployed. The number of underemployed persons in October 2009 was estimated at 6.9 million, placing the current underemployment rate at 19.4 percent. More than half (59.4%) of the total underemployed were reported as visibly underemployed or working less than 40 hours during the reference week. Those working for 40 hours or more accounted for 37.9 percent.
Most of the underemployed were working in the agriculture sector (3.2 million or 46.4%) and services sector (2.6 million or 38.5%). The underemployed in the industry sector accounted for 1.0 million or 15.0 percent.
Unemployment rate in October 2009 is 7.1 percent
The unemployment rate in October 2009 was estimated at 7.1 percent. Last year�s estimate was 6.8 percent.
NCR posted the highest unemployment rate at 11.8 percent and lowest in ARMM at 1.9 percent.
Six in every ten unemployed persons are males
The number of unemployed persons was higher among males (63.8%) than among females (36.2%). About one-half (50.3%) of the unemployed were in age group 15 to 24 years.
Across educational groups, high school graduates comprised more than one-third (34.7%) of the unemployed, about one-fifth (21.7%) were college undergraduates and 17.9 percent were college graduates.
Majority of the population who are not in the labor force are 15 to 24 years old
More than one-third (36.0%) of the population 15 years old and over in October 2009 were not in the labor force, like housewives, students, persons with disability, and retirees.
Majority of persons who were not in the labor force belonged to younger age group, that is, 9.8 million or 45.4 percent were 15 to 24 years old and 3.6 million or 16.7 percent were 25 to 34 years old.
SUMMARY
There were 38.2 million persons in the labor force out of the estimated 59.7 million population 15 years old and over.
The employment rate in October 2009 was registered at 92.9 percent. Last year�s rate was 93.2 percent.
More than half or 51.4 percent of the employed population were in the services sector, 34.0 percent in the agriculture sector and the rest (14.5%) in the industry sector.
Laborers and unskilled workers continued to make up the largest proportion of the employed as they comprised almost one-third (32.5%) of the employed population. Farmers, forestry workers, and fishermen came second with 16.4 percent.
More than half (53.5%) of the total employed persons were wage and salary workers, 34.5 percent were own-account workers and 11.9 percent were unpaid family workers.
Underemployment rate was estimated at 19.4 percent in October 2009 from 17.5 percent in October 2008.
Unemployment rate in October 2009 was estimated at 7.1 percent.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is a nationwide quarterly survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO). For this release, the data being presented are based on the final results of the October 2009 round of the LFS.
The reference period used in the survey is the past seven (7) days preceding the date of visit of the enumerator.
The concepts and definitions used in the survey can be found in the regular NSO-ISH Bulletins. Some are given below:
a. Labor Force - refers to the population 15 years old and over who contribute to the production of goods and services in the country. It comprises the employed and unemployed
b. Employed - consists of persons in the labor force who are reported either as at work or with a job or business although not at work. Persons at work are those who did some work, even for an hour during the reference period
c. Underemployed - refers to employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or an additional job, or have a new job with longer working hours
d. Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) - proportion of total labor force to the total household population 15 years old and over
e. Employment Rate - proportion of employed persons to the total labor force
f. Unemployment Rate - proportion of unemployed persons to the total labor force
g. Underemployment Rate - proportion of underemployed persons to total employed persons.
Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition has been adopted per NSCB Resolution Number 15 dated October 20, 2004. As indicated in the said resolution, the unemployed include all persons who are 15 years and over as of their last birthday and are reported as: (1) without work and currently available for work and seeking work; or (2) without work and currently available for work but not seeking work for the following reasons:
1. Tired or believed no work available
2. Awaiting results of previous job application
3. Temporary illness or disability
4. Bad weather
5. Waiting for rehire or job recall
Starting with the July 2003 round, the quarterly Labor Force Survey has been using the 2003 Master Sample Design. With this new master sample design, the number of samples increased from 41,000 to around 51,000 households.
The province of Basilan is now under the ARMM while Isabela City (Basilan) is under Region IX, in accordance with Executive Order No.36.
The 1992 four-digit code for Philippine Standard Occupational Classification (PSOC) and 1994 Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC) were used in classifying the occupation and industry, respectively.
Starting with the January 2007 LFS round, the population projections based on the 2000 Census of Population has been adopted to generate the labor force statistics. This is in compliance with NSCB Resolution No. 1 series of 2005 entitled Adoption of the Methodology Used in Generating the 2000 Census of Population and Housing-Based National Population Projections.
