THE GROWTH of the number of jobs at large enterprises in Metro Manila slowed down to near zero in the fourth quarter of 2015, amid huge job cuts in the mining industry, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Results from the PSA’s latest labor turnover survey show that the slowdown was driven mainly by the loss of jobs in mining and quarrying as well as in the agriculture sector.
PSA data show that for the December quarter of last year, the labor turnover rate—the difference between jobs gained and jobs lost—settled at 0.6 percent.
Employment growth continued to be positive, but this reflected a continued slowdown. This is considering that growth was at 1 percent and 3.2 percent in the same quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The latest figure was also markedly slower than the 3.2 percent recorded in the third quarter of 2015.
For every 1,000 enterprise workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), a net of six people were added during the three months to December last year.
For every thousand, 85 new hires joined but 79 quit or were fired. The hiring rate was recorded at 8.5 percent while the separation rate was 7.9 percent.
Overall, employment in the agriculture sector shrank by 6.2 percent, and industry sector by 0.9 percent. On the other hand, jobs in the services sector improved by 0.9 percent.
“Thirteen (of the major industries monitored) posted positive labor turnover rates while only five industries recorded negative labor turnover rates,” the PSA said.
The labor turnover rate in the fourth quarter was worst in mining and quarrying (-14.1); agriculture (-6.2); and information and communication (-4.5).
On the other hand, employment growth was best in professional, scientific and technical activities (5.4 percent); transportation and storage (2.8); and administrative and support service (2.1).
The net turnover rate was also negative for construction (-3.9 percent); and accommodation and food service (-0.2).
Other industries that showed gains were real estate (1.9); arts, entertainment and recreation (1.1); finance and insurance (1.0).
Showing lower improvement rates were education; human health and social work; whole sale and retail trade; manufacturing; and electricity and gas.