DOLE says more workers now with permanent jobs

BASED on the latest results of the September 2023 Labor Force Survey (LFS), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said there are now more Filipino workers who have permanent and regular jobs.

In a phone interview, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the decrease in the underemployment rate clearly shows that better jobs are now more available for the labor force.

“Note that the underemployment rate has decreased from 11.7% to 10.7%. The underemployment rate has declined considerably,” said Laguesma.

“This is quite significant because this is indicative that there are now more workers with more regular, permanent, and remunerative jobs. In fact, there are more fixed wage/salaried workers,” he added.

Based on the September 2023 LFS results, the underemployment rate dropped to 10.7 percent compared to 11.7 percent last August, a big improvement over the 15.4 percent underemployment rate in September 2022.

Underemployed persons are those who have expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work.

Laguesma said they expect the improving trend to continue at least until the end of 2023.

“With the expected renewed economic activities for the 4th quarter, we anticipate improved labor force survey results,” he said.

He, however, noted the situation may quickly change.

“The latest survey results reflect the volatility and seasonality of our labor markets aggravated by some adverse climate weather conditions and climate change that specifically affected the agriculture (sector),” said Laguesma.