Rosy employment figures
PROSPECTS are looking are looking good at the Philippine labor front.
Key socio-economic reforms and initiatives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s government bore positive results as the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed improvements in the country’s employment and unemployment figures.
According to the LFS, the employment rate in the Philippines rose to 96.3% in September this year from 95.5 % for the same period in 2023.
The increase translates to an additional 2.2 million workers employed, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.
On the other hand, the unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in September last year from 4.5% in the same period in 2023.
“[The decline] is a notable outcome of the continuous adoption of crucial socio-economic reforms and initiatives of the national government under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma explained.
Further, the Labor Force Participation Rate increased to 65.7% from 64.0%, with a notable rise among prime working-age individuals (+1.1 million) and women (+1.2 million), the LFS said.
Female LFPR improved to 55.7%, with fewer women citing household duties as a barrier, it added.
Moreover, the survey showed the underemployment rate increased slightly to 11.9% from 10.7% in September 2023.
“The increase in the underemployment rate from 10.7 percent to 11.9 percent year-on-year for the same period is a positive indication that there are more available jobs,” Laguesma said.
“(B)ut quality of jobs remains to be a challenge,” he added.
Laguesma said “efforts to create and generate quality jobs will continue to be a top priority and will be aggressively pursued in collaboration with the private sector.”
Meanwhile, the government is focusing on upskilling workers, especially in digital technologies, in collaboration with the private sector and academic institutions.
Passage of bills such as the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, Lifelong Learning Bill, and Enterprise Productivity Act is seen as crucial to improving workforce employability.
To be helpful is the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan, a 10-year roadmap to boost employment, attract investments, and improve labor governance.
Meanwhile, Malacañang has issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 72 directing all government agencies to adopt and implement the National Human Resources for Health Master Plan (NHRHMP) 2020-2040.
Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Oct. 28, the NHRHMP 2020-2040 will serve as the country’s long-term plan for HRH management and development.
The Department of Health (DOH) is designated to lead the implementation of the NHRHMP and formulate and adopt its policies and programs.
As the lead agency, the DOH is tasked to monitor HRH plans of the national and local governments and ensure their consistency with the NHRHMP 2020-2040.
The DOH is also directed to coordinate and collaborate with private sector, civil society organizations, and relevant stakeholders relative to the implementation and programs under the master plan.
In coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission, the DOH should also establish and maintain a national health workforce registry.
The DOH is also ordered to institutionalize the HRH Network and create a Technical Working Committee to deliberate and take appropriate actions on technical issues concerning implementation of the plan.
Both the national and local government agencies are instructed to support the implementation of the master plan.
The adoption of the NHRHMP 2020-2040 is aligned with one of the strategies under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, particularly in ensuring sustainable and equitable distribution of health infrastructure and human resources.
This will contribute to the attainment of Goal 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of the people.
Good luck to DOH!
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