News Release
Department of Labor and Employment
April 15, 2023
February 2023 LFS reflects improving employment situation – DOLE
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) welcomed the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey (LFS) for February 2023 saying it presents the current state of the labor market beyond the recovery stage and reflects the continuous improvement in the country’s employment situation.
The labor department in a statement issued yesterday said the February LFS highlights the increase in the number of Filipinos joining the labor force, with a participation rate of 66.6 percent or 51.27 million. Said figure, DOLE added, is 2.67 million higher than the labor force participation in the same period in the previous year, and 1.548 million above the reported labor force participation in the previous month.
DOLE reported that there is also a notable increase in the country’s employment rate by 1.6 percentage points or from 93.6 percent in February 2022 to 95.2 percent in February 2023. This translates to 48.8 million employed Filipinos.
The increase in employment according to DOLE may be attributed to employment expansion in wholesale and retail trade (repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) (+701,000 or 6.96%); accommodation and food service activities (+580,000 or 34.8%); agriculture and forestry (+554,000 or 5.76%); other service activities (+362,000 or 13.83%); and fishing and aquaculture (+340,000 or 27.45%).
In terms of unemployment incidence, there is a notable decrease in the number of unemployed workers on a year-on-year comparison, from 6.4 percent in February 2022 to 4.8 percent in February 2023.
The same trend was observed in the youth unemployment rate which reported a decline of 5.2 percentage points or from 14.3 percent in February 2022 to 9.1 percent in February 2023.
Moreover, the underemployment rate eased by 1.1 percentage points, from 14% in February 2022 to 12.9% this year.
Amid this steady momentum, the labor department constantly aligns its initiatives, implementation, and policy directions with the national and sectoral plans while recognizing the current and emerging challenges in the labor market.
For instance, the Department has completed its series of regional consultations to finalize the Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028, which is aligned with the President’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
The Department also continuously partners with the private sector and industry associations to deliver impactful workforce development opportunities that guarantee workforce competitiveness and employment preservation.
It is likewise prioritizing upskilling and reskilling of workers, especially the new entrants to the labor force, to increase their competitiveness and employability. END/aldm
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LFS ng Pebrero 2023 nagpakita ng pagbuti sa sitwasyon ng empleo – DOLE
Ikinalugod ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang resulta ng Labor Force Survey (LFS) ng Philippine Statistics Authority para sa Pebrero 2023 na nagpapakita sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ng merkado sa paggawa kung saan ito ay nakakabawi na at patuloy na pagbuti sa sitwasyon ng empleo ng bansa.
Sinabi ng labor department sa isang pahayag na inilabas kahapon na itinatampok ng Pebrero LFS ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga Pilipinong sumasali sa labor force, na may participation rate na 66.6 porsyento o 51.27 milyon. Ang nasabing bilang ay mas mataas ng 2.67 milyon kumpara sa labor force participation sa parehong panahon noong nakaraang taon, at 1.548 milyon na mas mataas sa naiulat na labor force participation noong nakaraang buwan, dagdag ng DOLE.
Iniulat ng DOLE na mayroon ding pagtaas sa employment rate ng bansa ng 1.6 percentage points o mula 93.6 porsyento noong Pebrero 2022 hanggang 95.2 porsiyento noong Pebrero 2023. Nangangahulugan ito na 48.8 milyong Pilipino ang mayroong trabaho.
Iniuugnay ng DOLE ang pagtaas ng empleo sa pagpapalawak ng trabaho sa wholesale and retail trade (repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) (+701,000 o 6.96%); accommodation and food service activities (+580,000 o 34.8%); agriculture and forestry (+554,000 o 5.76%); at iba pang service activities (+362,000 o 13.83%); at fishing and aquaculture (+340,000 o 27.45%).
Tungkol naman sa unemployment incidence, nakitaan ng pagbaba sa bilang ng manggagawang walang trabaho sa year-on-year comparison, mula 6.4 porsiyento ng Pebrero 2022 hanggang 4.8 porsyento ng Pebrero 2023.
Pareho din ang naobserbahan sa mga kabataang walang trabaho na nag-ulat ng pagbaba ng 5.2 percentage points o mula 14.3 porsiyento ng Pebrero 2022 hanggang 9.1 porsiyento ng Pebrero 2023.
Bukod dito, bumaba rin ang underemployment rate ng 1.1 percentage points, mula 14% noong Pebrero 2022 hanggang 12.9% ngayong taon.
Sa gitna ng tuluy-tuloy na momentum na ito, patuloy na iniaayon ng labor department ang mga inisyatiba, implementasyon, at mga polisiya nito sa pambansa at sektoral na mga plano habang kinikilala ang kasalukuyan at umuusbong na mga hamon sa merkado ng paggawa.
Isa sa mga ito ay ang pagtatapos sa ginawang regional consultation ng Kagawaran para sa pagsasa-pinal ng Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028, na alinsunod sa 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda ng Pangulo.
Patuloy ding nakikipagtulungan ang Kagawaran sa mga pribadong sektor at mga asosasyon ng industriya sa paghahatid ng mga oportunidad sa pagpapalakas ng kanilang mga manggagawa upang magarantiyahan ang kakayahan at kasanayan ng mga manggagawa at pangangalaga sa trabaho.
Binibigyang-prayoridad din nito ang pagbibigay ng kasanayan sa mga manggagawa, lalo na ang mga bagong pasok sa lakas-paggawa, upang mapataas ang kanilang kakayahan at oportunidad na makapag-trabaho. END/aldm/gmea
