Occupational Wages Survey / Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment

About the Survey

The Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) generates statistics for wage and salary administration and for wage determination in collective bargaining negotiations. This nationwide biennial survey covers establishments employing at least 20 workers.

The OWS is one of the designated statistical activities in E.O. 352 (s. 1996) that designates those critical for decision making by the government and the private sector. Moreover, the data category average monthly occupational wage rates in selected occupation is among those listed by the Philippine government under the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) of the International Monetary Fund. The SDDS serves as reference to member countries in the dissemination of economic and financial data to the public.

The Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (ISLE), formerly BLES Integrated Survey (BITS), is a nationwide survey of establishments employing at least 20 workers. Conducted simultaneously with OWS, it consists of at least three modules covering topics on employment, conditions of work and industrial relations.

Subjects of inquiries include employment of specific groups of workers, occupational shortages and surpluses, training of workers, industrial relations practices (which vary every survey round), occupational safety and health practices, occupational injuries and diseases, and labor cost of employees. The ISLE aims to provide inputs to studies on industry trends and practices, and bases for the formulation of labor policies.