According to the Philippine statistics authority, unemployment rate last July 2019 was 5.

4 %
however, this year on July 2020 unemployment rate increased to 17. 7%. This was more than a
300% increase due to the corona virus pandemic. According to ASEAN 2019, the Philippines’
unemployment rate (5.4%) last 2018 was the 2nd highest among the ASEAN countries (second
only to Brunei with a 9.2% unemployment), thus we can say that even before the pandemic, our
country’s unemployment problem has persisted for the past decades which emphasizes the
need for more solutions to solve this grave problem.

Unemployment is a huge factor in precipitating poverty. When one is unemployed, a person and
his family loses a source of income. With this, the entire family’s social status declines.

Unemployment also plays an important factor in increasing crime rate. When income is lost a
person will have to look for other means to support their families. In a country like hours, where
finding a new job is extremely difficult, some individuals who have just been laid off may lead
them to more violent illegal solutions.

Sources:

Rivas, R. (2020) PH Unemployment at All-Time High with 7.3 Million Jobless in April 2020.
Rappler. Retrieved from
https://rappler.com/business/unemployment-rate-philippines-april-2020

PSA (2020). Employment Situation in July 2020. Retrieved from

https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-situation-july-2020#:~:text=Unemployment
%20rate%20in%20July%202020,17.7%20percent%20during%20April%202020.

ASEAN (2019). ASEAN Key Figures 2019. Retrieved from https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-

content/uploads/2019/11/ASEAN_Key_Figures_2019.pdf