The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) granted clearance for the conduct of the 2010 Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) and 2009/2010 BLES Integrated Survey (BITS) on April 26, 2010.   The objective of the OWS is to generate statistics for wage and salary administration and wage determination in collective bargaining negotiations, while the BITS aims to generate an integrated data set on employment; occupational shortages and surpluses; balancing work, family responsibilities and working time arrangements; occupational safety; as well as health and occupational injuries. 

Both OWS and BITS are surveys conducted by the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) every two years.  The major data items to be collected from the 2010 OWS include: (1) occupational wage rates (basic pay and allowances) of time-rate workers on full-time basis in selected occupations in selected industries and corresponding employment; and (2) distribution of time-rate workers on full-time basis by basic pay and allowance intervals. 
The 2009/2010 BITS, on the other hand, will generate information on:
(1) primary economic activities of establishments; (2) establishment characteristics; (3) employment; (4) occupational shortages and surpluses;
(5) programs/facilities/privileges provided by establishments to employees to ensure balance in work and family responsibilities; (6) occupational safety and health; and (7) occupational injuries and diseases.

Results of the 2008 OWS revealed that the monthly wage rates of 180 occupations averaged Php 12,525.00.  The highest wage rate was in the transport industry, with an average monthly wage rate of Php 79,187.00 paid to aircraft pilots, navigators and flight engineers while ships’ deck officers and pilots received Php 23,956.00 on the average.  Monthly wage rates of teaching professionals ranged from Php 12,211.00 to Php 35,728.00 while those of customer service representatives/associates ranged from Php 9,443.00 to Php 18,295.00, and monthly wage rate received by professional nurses averaged Php 9,867.00.

The 2007/2008 BITS results, on the other hand, showed that: (1) a total of 203,972 job vacancies were reported by 24,457 establishments covered in the survey; (2) among professional vacancies, those for accountants and auditors were hardest to fill while vacancies for professional nurses were easiest to fill; and (3) the most common problems in filling up vacant positions include lack of competency, high expected wage, and lack of work experience.

The OWS has undergone several revisions since its first conduct in 1989.  The available series covers periods 1989-1995 (old survey design), 1997 (new design with October 1997 as reference period) and 2002-onwards (new design).

The BITS, on the other hand, was first conducted in 2003, integrating the data items collected by BLES in its four surveys: Survey of Specific Groups of Workers (SSGW), Industrial Relations at the Workplace Survey (IRWS), Occupational Injuries Survey (OIS) and Labor Cost Survey (LCS).  The available series covers the following periods: 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2006 and 2007/2008.

The questionnaires for both 2010 OWS and 2009/2010 BITS will be distributed to 6,460 establishments in the country starting July and will be collected until December this year.  The sample establishments were selected from the 2010 BLES Survey Sampling Frame updated from status of respondents in 2008 BLES conducted surveys, and Lists of Establishments from Job Displacements Reports for 2008 and 2009 as well as records from DOLE-NCR.   The NSO List of Establishments was also used in the previous rounds of the surveys.

The total cost of the two surveys is estimated at Php 7,122,000.00 or Php 1,102.48 per establishment, covering expenses for wages of enumerators, travel, supplies, printing, communications, and training.  Statistical tables containing the results of the 2010 OWS and 2009/2010 BITS are scheduled to be released through the BLES website in July and September 2011, respectively.

The SSRCS is a mechanism institutionalized by the NSCB through Memorandum Circular Nos. 4-88 and 04-95, which aims to: (1) ensure sound design for data collection; (2) minimize the burden placed upon respondents; (3) effect economy in statistical data collection; (4) achieve better coordination of government statistical activities; and (5) inform the private sector and the public in general that a government survey operation has passed clearance and enjoin their cooperation in the conduct of the survey.

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General

Contact Persons:

Ms. Millicent Gay B. Tejada/ Ms. Patricia Anne L. Rivera
Phone:  (632) 890-9404
Telefax: (632) 895-2436
E-mail :   mgb.tejada@nscb.gov.ph/ pal.rivera@nscb.gov.ph

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