Issues of the Philippines: Unemployment and Underemployment The Philippines' unemployment rate hits 4.5 percent or 2.15 million jobless Filipinos in January 2024 vs 3.1 percent in December 2023, according to Philippine Statistics Authority. The Philippines faces challenges in providing enough job opportunities for its growing workforce. The unemployment rate, particularly among the youth, remains high.

1. ISSUES/PROBLEMS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT PROBLEM
IN THE PHILIPPINES

2. PH UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
THE PHILIPPINES'
UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HITS 4.5
PERCENT OR 2.15
MILLION JOBLESS
FILIPINOS IN
JANUARY 2024 VS
3.1 PERCENT IN
DECEMBER 2023,
ACCORDING TO
PHILIPPINE
STATISTICS
AUTHORITY.

3. THIS PHOTO SHOWS PEOPLE LINING UP IN A JOB FAIR IN METRO

4. UNEMPLOYMEN
T
The Philippines faces
challenges in providing
enough job
opportunities for its
growing workforce. The
unemployment rate,
particularly among the
youth, remains high.

5. -LACK OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES
-RAPID POPULATION GROWTH,
-INCREASED LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION,
-THE NEED FOR HIGHER ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND
-MODERATION OF REAL MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES
FACTORS AFFECTING THE UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE
PHILIPPINES

6. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS RECORDED AT 3.6%,
OR THIRTY-SIX OUT OF EVERY 1,000 INDIVIDUAL IN
THE LABOR FORCE DOES NOT HAVE A JOB OR BUSINESS
IN NOVEMBER 2023. (PSA)
THIS MEANS THAT THE NUMBER OF JOBLESS
INDIVIDUALS DECREASED BY 275,000, HIGHER THAN
THE 2.18 MILLION UNEMPLOYED FILIPINOS IN THE SAME
PERIOD IN NOVEMBER 2022.
AMONG THE UNEMPLOYED, THE PSA REPORTED THAT 32 OUT OF 1000, OR 3.2% OF
MALES HAD NO JOBS IN NOVEMBER 2023. THIS IS LOWER THAN THE 4.1%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR WOMEN.

7. UNDEREMPLOYME
NT
Many employed
individuals are
underemployed,
meaning they are
working part-time or
in jobs that do not
fully utilize their skills
and education.

8. UNDEREMPLOYME
NT
The underemployment
rate decreased to 11.9
percent in December
2023 from the 12.6
percent reported in
December 2022. This
decline corresponds to
186,000 fewer
underemployed or
employed persons who
desire additional jobs and
work hours.

9. THE PSA ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE WERE 5.79
MILLION UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS OR THOSE
WHO EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
JOB OR HOURS OF WORK IN NOVEMBER 2023, AN
INCREASE FROM THE 5.60 MILLION IN OCTOBER 2023.
THE FIGURES ARE LOWER THAN THE 7.26 MILLION IN
NOVEMBER 2022.

10. People without jobs or with low-paying jobs struggle
to afford basic needs like food, housing, and
healthcare. This can also make them feel stressed or
unhappy.
EFFECTS ON PEOPLE

11. When many people are unemployed or underemployed,
they can’t spend much money, which slows down the
economy. It also means that some businesses might not
find workers with the right skills, which can affect their
growth.
EFFECTS ON ECONOMY