Rising Joblessness, Underemployment Refute �Improving Economy� Claim

MANILA — Employment statistics from the recently released January 2006 Labor Force Survey (LFS) belies government�s claim of an improving economy, according to independent think-tank Ibon Foundation. The January 2006 LFS actually paints a picture of a weak, worsening economy unable to generate long-term, sustainable jobs, the foundation said.

According to the LFS, some 2.8 million Filipinos failed to find work in January 2006, up by 15% from 2.5 million in the same period last year. The decrease in jobs came from the industry sector, which shed some 95,000 jobs mostly from the manufacturing and construction sub-sectors. In a strong, vibrant economy, manufacturing should be the backbone of the country�s industrial sector and a major source of job creation.

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