jobs crisis

PH upper middle income by end 2022?: Just a number – IBON

February 12, 2022

The “upper-middle income” country status that the Duterte government is hoping to achieve this year is just a number. Even if reached, this is an empty achievement amid the weakest economy and worst joblessness in decades and will just reflect the prosperity of an elite few.

Scar-crossed Labors

January 17, 2022

We will likely hear claims of strong economic performance, early recovery, and returning to a path of rapid and inclusive growth. But labor force and poverty figures for 2021 already show how any claims like that will just be bluster or, worse, blind to the daily experience of millions of Filipinos.

Ayuda urgently needed to mitigate worsening poverty

August 21, 2021

The government has just announced the transition from ECQ to modified ECQ so the economy can supposedly recover. But the Duterte administration’s over-reliance on destructive lockdowns without effective and substantial health and economic response, like much-needed ayuda, is what’s really worsening the crisis and pushing more Filipinos into poverty.

Jobs crisis rages, ayuda diminishes

August 17, 2021

Ayuda helped mitigate the unemployment shock in April last year but this dropped to just token amounts afterwards despite millions still being unemployed and in desperate need of assistance. Poor pandemic response just made things even worse.

Duterte’s poor COVID response: Biggest unemployment increase in Southeast Asia

August 11, 2021

The pandemic hit everyone, but the Philippines could have responded at least as well as other countries in the region.

June labor force survey confirms economy not recovering despite reopening

August 3, 2021

The latest labor force survey (LFS) shows how far away the economy is from recovering without real fiscal stimulus. Job generation is hollow with a bloating informal sector and huge contraction in full-time work. These will worsen with the looming ECQ which will push millions of Filipinos into deeper economic distress.

Strong economy? Worst job creation in 6 administrations of post-Marcos era

July 25, 2021

“Strong economic fundamentals” claims questionable given stats on weakest job generation post-Marcos era