00:00More than 2 million Filipinos have been added to the working class this September.
00:06And they are expected to increase as Christmas approaches.
00:10As for the majority of the working class, it's the senior citizens.
00:14Bernadette Reyes is the one in the spotlight.
00:20JP Martin considered my early Christmas as a new job as a cashier in a grocery store.
00:26It's hard to find a job nowadays.
00:28It's one of the more than 49 million Filipinos who have a job this September.
00:33More than 2 million more have a job in the same month, in 2023.
00:38The number of unemployed has decreased compared to last year.
00:43It's also lower compared to last August.
00:46Even so, sectors that have lost their jobs need to be addressed,
00:50such as agriculture affected by the recent typhoons.
00:54We have the largest drop in employment year-on-year in the agricultural sector and forestry,
01:02about 210,000, which is substantial.
01:04And also in fisheries and aquaculture, there's a decrease of 136,000.
01:11Some of the under-employed are expected to have extra hours at work, like Michelle.
01:19There's an additional cost to our daily expenses because life is hard.
01:25The good news is that as Christmas approaches,
01:28the retail sector usually adds job openings like malls and groceries due to Christmas shopping,
01:35as well as restaurants due to year-end income, and hotels due to those on vacation.
01:41Normally, our labor force participation rate,
01:44employed persons, both the number and the rate, during the bare months.
01:50Bazaars and markets will start in October.
01:55We have activities.
01:58Even senior citizens are looking for income,
02:02like Lola Mari Lu, 70 years old, who owns a small rice field.
02:07I want to have some income for my grandchildren.
02:13Like this, I can earn.
02:15I can give something to my grandchildren.
02:18According to the Philippine Statistics Authority,
02:20the number of senior citizens who work or do business in September increased by 384,000
02:27compared to the same period last year.
02:30Most of them are on the line in the services sector.
02:34The number of senior workers is increasing,
02:39both in terms of numbers and in terms of percentage of workers.
02:44For GMA Integrated News, Bernadette Reyes, Nakatuto, 24 Hours.
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