March 2024 unemployment down to 3.9%, DOLE says citing survey
By Trixee Rosel
The unemployment rate for March this year went down to 3.9 percent compared to the same month in 2023, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Saturday, May 18.
DOLE Secretary said March last year's unemployment rate was at 4.7 percent based on the Labor Force Survey (LFS).
But Laguesma said it is still slightly higher compared to the 3.5 percent unemployment rate in February this year.
"Nalulugod ang Kagawaran sa patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng ating mga kababayang may trabaho. Nagpapatunay ito na ang ating ekonomiya ay higit na lumalakas kumpara noong Marso ng nakaraang taon (The Labor Department is glad of the continued increase in the number of Filipinos with jobs. This only proves that the economy is stronger compared to March of last year)," said DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
The labor chief expressed satisfaction with the increased figures amid the presence of El Niño.
"Bumuti ang bilang ng trabaho sa gitna ng mga problema, gaya ng El Niño (The employment numbers improved even amid the problems, such as El Niño," he said.
Laguesma said this just demonstrates that the country's employment prospects are appropriate for the demands of employers.
"Ito ay sumasalamin sa kaangkupan ng mga programa ng Kagawaran na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ng ating mga kababayang naghahanap ng trabaho at mga empleyado (It shows that the department's programs are appropriate to the needs of job seekers and employers," said Laguesma.