Applicants flock to a Manila job fair in their bid for a better quality of life. — INQUIRER
MANILA: Forty-four per cent of adult Filipinos are optimistic that their quality of life will improve in 2026, while eight per cent believe it will worsen, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
Conducted from Nov 24 to 30 among 1,200 adults nationwide, the survey found that 38 per cent expect their quality of life to remain the same, and nine percent did not respond.
The survey showed a “very high” net personal optimism score (percentage of optimists minus percentage of pessimists) of +36, up one point from the +35 recorded in September 2025, SWS said.
By region, the net optimism score was highest in Balanced Luzon at +40, followed by Metro Manila at +36, Mindanao at +35, and lowest in Visayas at +29.
SWS also reported net optimism scores by gender, with women scoring higher at +39 compared to men at +34.
Meanwhile, net optimism declined with age. The net optimism scores for each age bracket are as follows:
>18 to 24 years old: +54
>25 to 34 years old: +41
>35 to 44 years old: +39
>45 to 54 years old: +34
>55 years old and above: +28
The survey found that those with senior high school and college education had the highest net optimism, both at +44, followed by those with no formal education and those with some elementary education at +37.
Junior high school and elementary school graduates had net optimism scores of +33 and +31, respectively.
According to SWS, the survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 300 respondents in each of the four areas.
They were asked this question in Filipino: In your opinion, what will be the quality of your life in the coming 12 months? Would you say that your quality of life will be better, will be the same, or will be worse?
The survey has a sampling error margin of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 per cent for each of the areas, SWS added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
