Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Monday refuted a Social Weather Stations survey which showed that nearly half of the country's adult labor force have become jobless.
“That (45.5 percent) is not actual joblessness,” Bello said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.
The July 3-6, 2020 National Mobile Phone Survey found adult joblessness at 45.5 percent of the adult labor force — accounting for 27.3 million Filipinos — a new record-high since the 34.4 percent in March 2012.
The SWS survey showed half of the respondents lost their jobs or livelihood during the COVID-19 crisis.
The labor chief, however, said only 3.3 million Filipinos were unemployed due to the pandemic.
Bello said the number could reach 10 million if the pandemic continues.
SWS defines the labor force as adults (18 years and above) presently with a job plus those looking for a job.
Adults who are jobless consists of those who (a) voluntarily left their old jobs, (b) are seeking jobs for the first time, or (c) lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.