Data are disseminated on the total number of unemployed persons in the labor force.

Prior to April 2005, "unemployed persons" are defined as persons who did not work or had no job/business during the reference week, but were reported to have been actively looking for work. Also considered as unemployed are persons without a job or business who were reported not looking, but were not looking for work because of their belief that no work was available or because of temporary illness/disability, bad weather, pending job application or waiting for job interview.

Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition includes all persons who are 15 years old and over as of their last birthday and are reported as:  

a.        Without work, i.e., had no job or business during the reference period; and

b.     Currently available for work, i.e., were available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment during the reference period, and/or would be available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the interview date; and

c.        Seeking work, i.e., had taken specific steps to look for a job or establish a business during the reference period; or not seeking work due to the following reasons:  (1) tired/believed no work available, i.e., the discouraged workers; 2) awaiting results of previous job application; (3) temporary illness/disability; (4) bad weather, and (5) waiting for rehire/job recall.

 The data are obtained from the Labor Force Survey (LFS) with the household as the reporting unit. The survey covers about 51,000 households in 2,835 PSUs of which 330 were certainty PSUs and 2,505 were non-certainty PSUs.  Surveys are conducted every second week up to the end of the reference period.

The reference period for the quarterly survey is the "past week" (last seven days prior to the date of visit of the enumerator.

Published data are not seasonally adjusted.

Executive Order No. 121:
Renamed the NCSO to which is now known as the National Statistics Office (NSO), the major statistical agency responsible for generating general purpose statistics and undertaking such censuses and surveys as may be designated by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

Section 18 states that "agencies conducting statistical inquiries be responsible for ensuring the timely release of the results thereof to the general public"

Executive Order No. 352 (EO 352):

This order lists the designated activity/statistics, the implementing agencies, and the frequency of data collection, geographic disaggregation and schedule of data dissemination.

Section 2 requires the dissemination of the data from the designated statistical activities to the general public.

Section 4 states that any modification, addition or deletion from the list needs the approval of the NSCB, the highest policy making body on statistical matters in the country.

Copies of Commonwealth Act No. 591 and Presidential Decree No. 418 may be obtained from the NSO (see address or contact person for details). Copies of EO 121 and EO 352 may be obtained from the NSCB, 2/F Midland Buendia Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Ext., Makati City, Philippines. (Fax: 632 8909408; Email: info@nscb.gov.ph).