Central Visayas employment rate remains at 92.3 percent

CEBU, Philippines - The employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to the total labor force in Central Visayas was recorded at 92.3 percent in October 2010.

This figure was the same as the estimate in October 2009 but this year, more workers in the region want longer working hours.

Data from the National Statistics Office-7 (NSO-7) showed the unemployment rate or the proportion of unemployed persons to the total labor force in the region stood at 7.7 percent in October 2010, the same as in October 2009.

While the employment scenario has remained the same, more workers have expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. These workers are considered underemployed, NSO data read.

According to the NSO, the number of underemployed workers in Region-7 in October 2010 was estimated at 434,000.

This number represents 18.9 percent underemployment rate, or the proportion of employed workers who want additional hours of work.

The underemployment rate of 18.9 percent in October 2010, was 2.5 percentage points higher than the 16.4 percent recorded in October 2009. — /WAB (FREEMAN)