The overall unemployment rate in the country dropped in April although underemployment rate rose.
The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Labor Force Survey released on June 5 showed the country’s unemployment rate in April fell to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent during the same period in 2017, reported ABS-CBN.
The Ilocos Region had the highest unemployment rate at 7.3 percent, followed by Calabarzon and Metro Manila at 6.6 percent and 6.4 percent
Although unemployment fell, the number of underemployed individuals, or those who work for extra hours or have jobs but are looking for new work, climbed to 17 percent from 16.1 percent recorded year-on-year.
Bicol Region had the highest underemployment rate at 34 percent.
More than half of underemployed individuals polled said they worked less than 40 hours a week.
The report comes after the World Bank said that in order for the Philippines to eradicate poverty, the government must undertake measures to address underemployment in the country.
The government can do this by providing more high-paying jobs which is seen to “speed up poverty reduction”, the World Bank also said.
