NSCB: Young people form bulk of unemployed

Young people make up the bulk of poor Filipinos without jobs, a report by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed.

NSCB underscored the need to address youth unemployment in the country, citing its latest “Sexy Statistics” report which covered the years 2006 to 2009.

Data show that about three in five unemployed people are aged 15 to 24.

“It is said that ‘ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan,’ (the youth is the hope of our nation) but if these ‘youth unemployment’ figures are not addressed, their future and ours will be in danger,” the report said.

The government’s goal is to achieve inclusive growth by generating employment and decent work for all.

“This thrust of ‘development for all’ continues to be a big challenge,” the NSCB said.

Government data showed that despite economic growth, poverty incidence among Filipinos remained unchanged for almost a decade, ranging from 24.9 to 26.5 percent during the period.

The working poor continued to have jobs in agriculture, instead of being employed in the manufacturing sector which provides better wages, it added.

The report cited the cases of Vietnam and China, which were able to bring down the proportion of their working poor.

“In these countries, the share of employed persons in agriculture and forestry has been decreasing, while the share of those in manufacturing has been increasing. In other words, the poor (from agriculture) managed to exit from poverty by getting better employment,” it said.

But the NSCB is optimistic that the working poor can still be absorbed in the manufacturing sector, noting efforts by the Department of Trade and Industry to revive the industry.  Ana G. Roa