Characterization of Agricultural Workers in the Philippines

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The Philippine economy has entered a period of growth acceleration since 2011. From 2011 to 2016 alone, the World Bank estimates that the country's per capita gross domestic product increased by an annual rate of 4.8 percent. However, it seems this growth has thus far not benefited the agricultural workers, who represent a sizable share of the Philippine workforce. For instance, this Policy Note finds that poverty rates remain high in the agricultural sector. Unfortunately, the agricultural workers are also the recipients of the lowest daily pay among those working in the basic sectors in the country. Despite these findings, this study still notes key knowledge gaps which constrain the development of a detailed socioeconomic profile of agricultural workers. It thus recommends the gathering of primary data to assist in the recommendation of policies and designing of programs that can help sustain and accelerate growth of remunerative employment opportunities in agriculture.