SWS survey: Joblessness down in November

MANILA, Philippines — Joblessness among adults eased in November as the country slowly recovered from the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey was conducted through in-person interviews among 1,500 adults from Nov. 21 to 25.

The SWS recorded adult joblessness at 27.3 percent in November last year or an estimated 12.7 million jobless adults, down by 12 points from 39.5 percent in September and the record-high 45.5 percent in July.

The figures resulted in a record-high annual average of 37.4 percent unemployment rate in 2020, beating the 28.8 percent average in 2012. The average in 2019 was 19.8 percent.

The 12-point decline was due to the sharp decrease in joblessness in the Visayas (from 52 percent in September to 19.1 percent in November) as well as in Mindanao (from 40 percent in September to 17 percent in November).

Unemployment also fell slightly in Luzon outside Metro Manila (from 33.5 percent to 32.7 percent) and in Metro Manila (from 39.9 percent to 37.8 percent).

The SWS said involuntary hunger or hunger due to the lack of food also went down by 21 points among the jobless and by 7 points among those with a job.

There were fewer gainers and more losers among the jobless (-61) than those with a job (-44), but optimism was higher among the unemployed (+44) than those with a livelihood (+33).

Unemployment declined among women (from 51.1 percent in September to 34.1 percent in November) and men (from 29 percent to 22.2 percent).

Across all age groups, joblessness fell except among those between 18 and 24 years old. —Inquirer Research