The number of unemployed adult Filipinos is the lowest in about nine years, according to the third quarter Social Weather Stations survey released yesterday.
The survey conducted from September 24 to 27 showed that 18.4 percent or 8.2 million Filipinos have no jobs or yet to have one.
The figure is 3.3 percentage points lower than the 21.7 percent or about 10 million adults recorded in the second quarter survey last June and is the lowest since the 17.5 percent in December 2007.
The SWS defines adult joblessness data as “the population of adults in the labor force.” Those who have a job at present, plus those without a job at present and looking for a job, are also part of the labor force.
One thousand, three hundred adults nationwide participated in the survey.
The survey placed the adult participation force at 72 percent or 44.7 million adults but it is 2.1 percentage points lower than the 74.1 percent or 46 million adults last June.
Eight percent or about 3.6 million adults said they voluntarily left their jobs down from 10.3 percent or an estimated 4.7 million adults last June.
An estimated 3.3 million or 7.4 percent said they lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control, compared to the 6.7 percent or the 3.1 million adults in the previous quarter. (Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola)
