China News Agency, Manila, March 18 (Reporter Guan Xiangdong) Employment statistics released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on the 18th showed that the country's unemployment rate fell from 6.6% in December 2021 to 6.4% in January 2022.

　　The data shows that the number of Philippine employment increased from about 41.25 million in January 2021 to about 43.03 million in January 2022, an increase of about 1.78 million.

Among them, the employment in the service industry accounted for the largest proportion, accounting for 58.9%.

The employment rate is 93.9% for men and 93.2% for women.

　　Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Presidential Information Secretary Andanal said in a statement that the number of unemployed in the Philippines fell from about 3.96 million in January 2021 to about 2.93 million in January 2022, which means that the number of unemployed nationwide decreased by about 103 Wan, the presidential palace "welcomes" the statistic.

　　Andanar analyzed that the improvement of the employment situation in the Philippines is due to the government's timely and effective adjustment of its strategy.

On March 1 last year, the Philippines launched the "National Vaccination Program", and the epidemic prevention measures were gradually shifted from the "isolation level system" to the "alert level system". While implementing precise epidemic prevention, the economy was gradually opened up, thereby increasing the employment rate.

　　Since February 1, the capital Manila and 47 other regions in the Philippines have implemented the first-level alert for epidemic prevention, allowing the government and private enterprises to operate at full capacity.

The employment rate in January 2022 was 93.6%, up from 91.2% in January 2021, and up from 92.6% in the fourth quarter of 2021, PSA data showed.

Andanar said the country's economic team expects another 170,000 jobs to be added in the second quarter of 2022.

　　Andanar said that amid a tightening global economy, the Duterte administration will ensure continued targeted relief for the transportation and agriculture sectors, as well as support for low-income households amid inflationary pressures.

(over)