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Employment rate at 92.5% in April 2013
The results of the April 2013 Labor Force Survey (LFS) revealed an employment rate of 92.5 percent. In the same month of the previous year, that is April 2012, the employment rate was estimated at 93.1 percent. The drop in the employment rate is due to the decline in employment in the agriculture sector, with the number of agricultural workers falling from an estimated 12.468 million in April 2012 to 11.844 million in April 2013, or by about 624 thousand workers.
The total number of employed persons in April 2013 is estimated at 37.819 million compared to 37.840 million in April 2012, or a decrease of around 21 thousand workers. While employment in the agriculture sector had dropped, employment in the industry sector and services sector grew by 3.8 percent or 224 thousand workers, and by 1.9 percent or 380 thousand workers, respectively, from April 2012 to April 2013.
Workers in the services sector remained the largest group of workers, making up more than half (52.6%) of the total employed. Workers in agriculture sector comprised the second largest group, accounting for 31.3 percent of the total employed. Workers in the industry sector made up 16.1 percent.
Among the workers in the services sector, those engaged in wholesale and retail trade or in the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles made up the largest percentage. Such workers accounted for 34.6 percent of the total employed in the services sector in April 2013. In the industry sector, workers in the manufacturing subsector accounted for the largest percentage, making up 52.3 percent of the total workers in this subsector.
Among the various occupation groups, the laborers and unskilled workers comprised the biggest group making up one-third (32.6%) of the total employed persons in April 2013. Officials of the government and special interest organizations, corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors and supervisors were the second biggest group with 16.0 percent share. The farmers, forestry workers and fishermen made up the third largest occupation group accounting for 13.1 percent of the total employed.
There were two occupation groups that recorded a significant drop in size in April 2013. These were the farmers, forestry workers and fishermen whose number decreased to approximately 4.960 million in April 2013 from 5.398 million in April 2012, or a decrease of about 438 thousand workers; and the laborers and unskilled workers whose number dropped by approximately 384 thousand. By comparison, the number of wage workers, particularly those in the government and private establishments increased markedly. These are the officials in the government and special interest organizations, corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors, clerical workers, service workers and shop and market workers (Table 1).
Employed persons fall into any of these categories: wage and salary workers, self-employed workers without any paid employee, employers in own family-operated farm or business, and unpaid family workers. Wage and salary workers are those who work for private households, private establishments, government or government-controlled corporations, and those who work with pay in own family-operated farm or business. In April 2013, 57.5 percent of the total employed population were wage and salary workers. In April 2012, wage and salary workers made up 55.8 percent of the total employed. Among the wage and salary workers in April 2013, those who worked for private establishments comprised the largest percentage (44.3% of the total employed). Those working for the government or government-controlled corporations accounted for 8.1 percent of the total employed, and those working for private households, 4.8 percent.
In April 2013, self-employed workers without any paid employees accounted for 28.6 percent of the total employed, while the unpaid family workers comprised 10.9 percent. Employers in own family-operated farm or business made up only 3.0 percent. These three classes of workers dropped in number in April 2013. Among them, the unpaid workers in own family-operated farm or business had the largest drop of approximately 398 thousand workers, followed by the self-employed without any paid employee with a drop of about 143 thousand workers. By contrast, workers in private establishments increased by 530 thousand.
Employed persons are classified as either full-time workers or part-time workers. Full-time workers are those who work for 40 hours or more while part-time workers work for less than 40 hours.
Of the total employed persons in April 2013, 63.5 percent were working full time, while 34.7 percent were working part time. By comparison, in April 2012, full-time workers comprised 55.1 percent of the total employed, while part-time workers, 42.8 percent. The proportion of full-time workers, and also the mean hours worked per week had increased in all industry sectors. The workers in the services sector had the highest mean hours worked in the week prior to the survey (47.1 hours).
Employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours are considered under-employed. The number of under-employed persons in April 2013 was estimated at 7.252 million placing the under-employment rate at 19.2 percent. In April 2012, under-employment rate was recorded at 19.3 percent with the number of under-employed estimated at 7.312 million (Table 4).
The visibly under-employed persons or those working for less than 40 hours in April 2013 accounted for 53.8 percent of the total under-employed, which is lower than the percentage recorded in April 2012 (63.9%). Of the total under-employed in April 2013, 42.2 percent were working in the services sector and 40.9 percent were in the agriculture sector. The under-employed in the industry sector accounted for 16.9 percent (Table 4).
Among the regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) and CALABARZON had recorded an employment rate below 90.0 percent. In terms of under-employment, Region V, Region X and Caraga had rates of 30 percent or higher (Table 5).
The unemployment rate in April 2013 was estimated at 7.5 percent, which is higher than the estimate for April 2012 (6.9%). The NCR and CALABARZON posted rates of unemployment higher than 10.0 percent.
There were more males (61.4%) than females (38.6%) among the unemployed. The age group 15-24 made up 48.2 percent of the total unemployed, while the age group 25-34, 30.9 percent. By education, about one-fifth (21.3%) of the unemployed were college graduates, 14.6 percent were college undergraduates, and 31.7 percent were high school graduates.
Source: National Statistics Office
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A runner’s life
Video below tells the story of my friend Robinson who has been running for years and counting.
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PHL flag: Symbol of struggle for sovereignty and love for freedom
The Philippine flag
MANILA, June 10 (PNA) — Three stars and a sun: the Philippine flag, in all its entirety, has been a symbol of both struggle for sovereignty and love for freedom.
This will be underlined with much passion and intense feeling once more when this Southeast Asian nation of nearly 100 million marks the 115th anniversary of its Independence on June 12.
The birth of the Philippine flag was marked by a revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 1800s when then Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo came up with the idea of producing a flag that would unite and signify the new nation.
Since it was first waved at the declaration of Philippine independence in 1898, the flag fluttered as a witness to the continued struggles of Filipinos for freedom.
While the first waving of the flag symbolized independence from 377 years of oppression from the Spaniards, foreign rule did not end.
For 50 more than years after the end of the Spanish colonial rule, Filipinos carried out war against the Americans and resisted in bloody combat and guerrilla warfare tactics the Japanese occupation during World War II.
The flag is a legacy to the younger generation of Filipinos from their elders who shed blood and life to attain independence, a recognition of Philippine sovereignty, unity and aspirations as a nation.
The flag will be proudly waved nationwide once more, as the country celebrates, in fitting ceremonies, its 115th anniversary of independence.
But in these times of peace, the nation faces yet another ‘battle’ of defending its territories from neighbors the country considers as long-time friends.
The country’s celebration of independence this year comes at a time when the nation grapples with territorial disputes.
Similar to what the early Filipinos did from the time of Lapu-Lapu’s defense of Mactan to the Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II, political analysts say Philippine authorities won’t back down either from defending what authorities say is rightfully the country’s.
Sans the bolos, the guns and the military power, authorities are fighting the battle in fair and diplomatic ways — gestures that show the Filipinos’ love for peace and bravery in war — the very essence of the colors blue and red in the Philippine flag.
In September last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 29 renaming South China Sea waters within the country’s exclusive economic zone the West Philippine Sea.
These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, is within the country’s EEZ.
More than 100 years have passed since Filipinos were freed from colonial rules, the Philippine flag to date is still flying high and, this time, younger generations of Filipinos feel a sense of nationalism and pride every time it takes the winds in international events.
Political observers say Filipinos are reminded that the flag is imbued with the blood of Lapu-Lapu, the fearless warrior, and the countless men and women who sacrificed for the generations of Filipinos to enjoy their freedom.
The waving of the flag is more than just letting it flap rapidly in the air.
A Filipino, in her 30s, said it aptly, in the run up to the Independence Day ceremonies: “The best way to respect and honor it is to defend and continue to stand for what our forebears fought for centuries ago.” (PNA)
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Finding The Right Used Cars In Glasgow
There are some people who look at the idea of having to buy a used car as some type of punishment. They believe that just because they are buying a used car they are somehow inferior to the new cars that are on the lot. The problem with this idea is that a lot of the used cars that are out there on the lot are better quality than the new cars that are sitting just 50 yards away. Fact is, a well-built used mid-sized car is going to outperform a newer compact each time it gets on the road. While not all used cars Scotland are going to be up to snuff, there are enough good ones that are easy to find that are going to last much longer than the new cars that they share the lot with.
image credits: www.williamsonuxbridge.com
The problem with viewing the purchase of a used car as some type of “demotion” is that it ignores the fact that you are being a smart consumer. If you have a set amount of Pounds that you want to spend on a car, it makes sense to look for the best option that you can find on the lot. If you can spend 10,000 Pounds on a superior used car compared to a by-the-number compact new car that makes you feel like you are a sardine in a tin when you drive it, well, it is worth it. Being a smart consumer is buying the car that makes sense for your particular needs, not buying a new car just because it is new. Scottish people love their cars, I know you do! So make sure you look in to all the different options available, whether you want a people carrier, a 4×4 or a dreamy sportscar, pick the car that is right for you, your family and your day to day activities.
Of course, with all of the used cars in Glasgow it makes sense that you are going to want tot ake some time to look around. Part of being a smart consumer is taking your time looking for the car that is perfect for your specific needs.
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Mobile Phone Recycling
Help cut carbon footprints by recycling unwanted mobile phones. Yes, mobile phones can be recycled at the end of their life.
According to experts, mobile phones are considered hazardous wastes. Wrong disposal of mobile phones are potentially dangerous to human health as chemicals could leak into the ground and affect the water system.
How is it done?
The recyclers say all materials used to manufacture cell phones—metals, plastics and rechargeable batteries—can be used to make new products.
When the batteries can no longer be reused, they can be recycled to make other rechargeable battery products. In response to the ecological damage it could bring, companies have set up mobile phone recycling bins and they will in turn recycle the old phones or dispose them in an environmentally friendly way. Some even pay the phone owner.
In the United Kingdom and United States, mobile phone recycling is highly encouraged.
In Asia, particularly in the Philippines (dubbed as the ‘texting’ capital of the world), the practice is relatively new and not everyone is familiar with how it is done.
A recent study shows that seven out of 10 Filipinos own more than one mobile phone. With the rapid change in mobile technology also comes the habitual disposal of old model phones.
In 2011, several local telecoms providers have seen this as an opportunity to initiate a mobile phone recycling project with the aim of supporting a conservation effort.
The program aims to attract the public to donate old mobile phones by bringing them to cell phone recycling bins in participating malls. For every phone donated, the group will donate P100 to support the conservation efforts of Philippine tarsiers–considered the smallest primate in the world.
How many mobile phones are stuck in your drawer? To answer my own question, I have three: a black Motorola Razr that was inundated in 2009, a Sony Ericsson and a Nokia. I chose neither to donate nor throw them because all three possess sentimental value as they were gifts by loved ones.
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