Rep. Fidel Nograles of Rizal, chairperson of the House of Representatives Labor and Employment Committee is optimistic the government can achieve the three million new jobs President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has targeted by the end of his term.
“I believe that the target of 3 million by the end of Pres. Marcos’ term is achievable. Kami sa Kamara ay patuloy na makikipagtulungan sa administrasyon para mapatotoo ang adhikaing ito at nang mas marami pa sa kababayan natin ang magkaroon ng marangal na pamumuhay (We in the House will continue to work with the administration to make this aspiration come true and to be able to provide a recent living for Filipinos),” Nograles said.
During the 2024 National Employment Summit held from June 26 to June 27 in Manila, President Marcos expressed optimism that the implementation of the 10-year national employment masterplan under Republic Act 11962 or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (Jobs for the People) or TBP Act will help create 3 million new jobs by 2028.
Nograles said that recent employment numbers provide a clue that the country is moving in the right direction. The Labor Force Survey released on June 6 showed an increase in employment from April 2023 to the same period this year from 95.5 percent to 96 percent, with the number of employed Filipinos increasing to 48.46 million from 48.06 million.
The unemployment rate also slid to 4 percent from 4.5 percent last year, with the number of unemployed persons going down to 2.04 million from 2.26 million.