MANILA-Unemployment

KYODOPHOTO: MANILA:22JUNE2000:Unemployment UP -- A GROWING labor force has increased the number of unemployed by at least 153,000 compared to last year, from 2.8 million in January 1999 to 2.95 million in January 2000. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, however, said the NSO figures were no cause for concern saying programs were already in place to accommodate the new entrants to the labor force. The NSO's Philippine Labor Force Survey, posted at the NSO's website, said the labor force grew by 680,000 compared to last year. Photo by Sid Balatan