Philippines needs 6 million more workers to support consumer population — POPCOM

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) on Wednesday said the Philippines needs to add 6 million effective workers to accommodate the population of consumers.

At a public briefing, POPCOM executive director Juan Antonio Perez said that based on the 2020 data, the country only has 39 million workers for 96 million consumers.

“That is probably not enough. Probably we need to add 6 million more effective workers para magkaroon ng correct balance ng (to achieve a correct balance on the) number of workers supporting the number of consumers,” he said.

Perez said the Philippines has a good number of people below 15 years old who may enter the workforce. With this, he said agencies should make efforts to make them employable.

“That means we have to invest in education and tech voc and other courses na they can go into. We need effective workers to support 'yung mga consumer natin o 'yung older and younger population,” he said.

POPCOM earlier reported that the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showed a steady growth in the Philippines’ working-age population, with the 15 to 64 age group now making up 63.9% of Filipinos—slightly higher from 63.3% in 2015, and 59.1% in 2000.—AOL, GMA News