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Nine-year high unemployment rate in Philippines |
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June 20, 2000
MANILA, (AP) - The Philippine unemployment rate rose sharply from 9.3 percent in January to 13.9 percent in April, the highest level in nine years, the government said Monday.
The huge jump in the country's unemployment rate was blamed on a substantial decline in employment in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, which fell 12.7 percent to 10.4 million in April from 12 million in January. There was also a 1.3 percent drop in industrial employment to 10.43 million in April from 10.59 million in January. The National Statistics Office, which releases labor data every four months, said the latest unemployment rate is the highest since the 14.4 percent registered in April 1991. "This is a cause for concern," said the agency's administrator, Tomas Africa. There were 4.573 million officially unemployed people in April compared to 2.953 million in January and 3.952 million in April 1999. The total number of employed people in April fell to 28.301 million from 28.895 million in January and 29.492 million in April 1999.
Philippine unemployment statistics do not include the large number of people who work only a few hours a day in makeshift jobs. Many of the country's 74 million population are not counted at all in the potential labor force.
Official underemployment in April rose to 25.1 percent of the labor force, or 7.105 million, from 21.1 percent, or 6.117 million, in January. In April 1999, the underemployment rate stood at 22.7 percent, or 6.694 million.
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