DOLE: CAR unemployment down; sectors back on track

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. Nathaniel Lacambra, Department of Labor (DOLE)-Cordillera Administrative Region director, says the region's unemployment rate went down from 45 percent in 2020 to 5.4 percent in 2021. In a press conference on Wednesday (May 4, 2022) at the regional office in Baguio City, he said "employment (in Cordillera) is very rosy and improving little by little." (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)

By Liza Agoot 

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of Labor and Employment Cordillera said the region's employment is greatly improving with almost all sectors back on track.
    In a press conference last week, Nathaniel Lacambra, regional director of the DOLE-Cordillera, said unemployment rate in the region went down to 5.4 percent in 2021 from 45 percent in 2020, the year the global pandemic started.
    "Little by little, our employment status has improved. It is almost close to normal except for a few who have not resumed operation like the night establishments," he said.
    He added that while some establishments end the day's operation earlier than they used to before the pandemic, "marami na ang nakabalik sa trabaho (many have gone back to work). But because of the shorter operating hours, they need fewer workers."
    He added that placing Baguio City under Alert Level 1 is reaping benefits not only for the government but also for individual workers.
    The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Cordillera during the regional economic performance report last week reported that the region's economic performance improved, posting a gross regional domestic product of 7.5 percent in 2021.
    The industry sector posted the fastest growth at 16.3 percent and services logged a 65.5 percent share in the increase.
    Lacambra said 34 employers joined the regional jobs and livelihood fair in Baguio City last May 1 to offer over 10,432 vacancies for local and foreign job placements.
    He said 1,574 applicants registered during the activity.
    Twenty-two were hired on the spot and 762 nearly got hired and were required to undergo further screening.
    Marvie Fulgencio, Board Secretary of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), said 1.25 million people aged 15 and above are of employable age, 63.8 percent of which or 798,777 are already working. – PNA