Filipinos getting more jobs, working overtime — BLES

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are finding more jobs and taking on more-than-average workload, according to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES).

Data from the BLES from July 2012 showed that about two-thirds of employed Filipinos have been clocking in more than the usual 40-hour work week even as the number of jobholders rose along with the employment rate.

Based on the labor force survey as of last July, the average work week was 42.2 hours when 93 percent of working age Filipinos were taking part in the labor force and did have work.

Of the 37.6 million employed Filipinos, 24.6 million logged in up to 48 hours or even more each week.

This was more than the 20.8 million who did so as of April and the 24.1 million who did so in July 2011.

In April 2012 and July 2011, jobholders numbered 37.8 million and 37.1 million respectively. Back then, the employment rate was 93.1 percent and 92.9 percent, respectively.

Also, BLES data show that about one-third or 12.5 million of those with jobs as of July were laborers and unskilled workers.

At the same time, the two next biggest groups by occupation were officials, managers, and supervisors in public and private sectors (5.2 million), and farmers, fishermen and forestry workers (5.1 million).

Classified by industry sectors, the biggest employers were agriculture and fisheries with about one-third or 11.6 million of those with jobs), wholesale and retail (about one-fifth or 7 million) and manufacturing (one-twelfth or 3.2 million).

According to the National Statistics Office, the country had an estimate of 63.1 million population aged 15 years and over in July.

The NSO said that out of this estimate, 40.4 million persons were in the labor force, or those who were either employed or unemployed. This translates to a labor force participation rate of 64.0 percent.

The NSO defines an employed person as a wage and salary worker, a self-employed worker without any paid employee, an employer in his or her own family-operated farm or business, or an unpaid family worker.