Unemployment, underemployment slightly lower in January

March 7, 2019

The unemployment rate in January is estimated at 5.2 percent, down from 5.3 percent during the same time last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.

Among the regions, National Capital Region (6.4 percent), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (6.3 percent) and Calabarzon (6.1 percent) were the regions with the highest unemployment rates.

However, underemployment remained at double-digit levels with 15.6 percent, down from 18 percent during the same period in 2018.

Underemployment is defined by the PSA as those '' employed persons who express desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours.''  

Among the unemployed persons in January , 64.4 percent were males. Of the total unemployed, the age group 15 to 24 years comprised 43.7 percent, while the age group 25 to 34, 30.6 percent. DMS