The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) renewed the clearance for the conduct of the Quarterly Labor Force Survey (LFS).

The survey is undertaken by the PSA to provide statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment in the country, as well as to provide a quantitative framework for the preparation of plans and formulation of policies affecting the labor market.

Some of the data released from the quarterly survey include:

a. Percent distribution of household population 15 years old and over, by employment status, by region, sex, and age group;
b. Percent distribution of employed persons by highest grade completed, major occupation group, major industry group, class of worker, total hours worked, and nature of employment;
c. Percent distribution of employed persons wanting more hours of work by total hours worked and major occupation group;
d. Percent distribution of unemployed persons by highest grade completed, by sex and age group; and
e. Percent distribution of unemployed persons looking for work by job search method, number of weeks looking for work, by sex and region.

A total budget of PhP17.2 million will be utilized in the survey and about 42,768 households nationwide will be interviewed every quarter. Preliminary results of the quarterly LFS are expected to be released 35 days after the data collection.

Meanwhile, results of the April 2021 LFS showed that:

a. Employment rate posted a month-on-month decline at 91.3 percent in April 2021 from 92.9 percent in March 2021 due to reimposition of community quarantine in National Capital Region (NCR) and other nearby areas.
b. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) was estimated at 63.2 which translate to 47.41 million persons who are either employed or unemployed. LFPR is the percentage of the total number of persons in the labor force to the total population with age of 15 years old and over.
c. Services sector accounted for the largest share of employed persons with 57.4 percent followed by agriculture and industry sector at 24.4 percent and 18.2 percent, respectively.
d. Underemployment rate or employed persons who expressed desire to have additional hours of work in their present job was recorded at 17.2 percent in April 2021. This rate translates to 7.45 million underemployed persons in April 2021.

The detailed results of the LFS can be accessed at: hrttps://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/labor-force-survey.

The Quarterly LFS was reviewed and cleared for conduct under the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS), a mechanism being implemented by the PSA by virtue of Rule 28 of Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10625 to:

a. ensure sound design for data collection;
b. minimize the burden placed upon respondents;
c. effect economy in statistical data collection;
d. eliminate unnecessary duplication of statistical data collection efforts; and
e. achieve better coordination of government statistical activities.

In line with this, the PSA enjoins the public to support the quarterly LFS by providing the required information to authorized PSA interviewers who will visit the sample households to conduct the personal interview.  Data collection for the third quarter survey round of LFS will be from the 2nd week to the 4th week of July 2021. 

For further information on SSRCS, please contact the Statistical Standards Division (SSD) of the Standards Service (SS) with telephone numbers
(02) 8376-1928 or (02) 8376-1931, and email addresses: ssd.staff@psa.gov.ph or ssdss.staff@gmail.com.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

See more at the Statistical Survey Review and Clearance System (SSRCS) landing page.