The decrease in unemployment in the country is an indication of positive development and a piece of good news, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Friday.
The preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Labor Force Survey showed that the unemployment rate in November 2024, dropped to 3.2 percent, which is equivalent to 1.66 million, from 3.9 percent the previous month.
Subsequently, the underemployment rate fell to 10.8 percent in November 2024, from 12.6 percent in October. With the results, Romualdez said that the decrease in unemployment and underemployment numbers mean that “the economy continues to expand under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and continues to create job and income opportunities for our people.”
Additionally, the House Speaker described that the right economic policies drive growth and generate more jobs for Filipinos.
“The right economic policies are driving our growth and generating jobs for jobless Filipinos. We are happy for those who have found employment and who are working longer hours than before,” he said.
“For those who remain unemployed, the government has various programs to help them. We hope that as the economy grows and create more jobs, they would eventually find employment,” he added.
With that, Romualdez suggested that Filipinos may find employment through the following programs: Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which are administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Additionally, they might also consider the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Filipinos can also avail of training and retooling courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Romualdez assured the public that Congress would continue its efforts to help the Marcos administration sustain economic growth, keeping current jobs and creating more jobs.
“It’s a big challenge, which we hope to successfully address for the benefit of all of our people,” he said.
