THE number of jobless Filipinos, which totaled 11.9 million in September 2021, provides a “major challenge” for the administration and the incoming government.

The six-year administration of outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the first Mindanaoan to occupy the top political post of the land, ends at 12 noon on June 30, 2022.

With just more than six months before he returns to private life, Duterte may no longer have the time to address the problem of joblessness in this impoverished country.

That’s why the incoming President, who is set to be elected by the people on May 9, 2022, is duty-bound to review and appraise whatever progress achieved since June 30, 2016.

Hopefully, the successor of Duterte mobilizes the manpower and financial resources of the government to attain the goals envisoned in programs aimed at meeting the employment needs of the people.

The issue of unemployment in a country that is teeming with jobless and underemployed people is a potent factor that can decide the fate of national candidates in next year’s automated elections.

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 24.8 percent of the labor force were found without a job from September 12 to September16.

It was down by only 2.8 points from the 27.6 percent, or some 13.5 million jobless individuals, recorded in June.

The SWS said that the jobless are those who voluntarily left their jobs, those seeking jobs for the first time, or those who lost their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control.

The rising number of jobless and underemployed people at this time of economic hardship must be addressed by the government if we are to win the battle against hunger and poverty.

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