Sixty-five percent of the population 15 years old and over were in the labor force

 In 2023, the labor force participation rate (LFPR) was estimated at 64.9 percent or 649 in every 1,000 Filipinos 15 years old and over were either employed or unemployed. This translates to 50.38 million Filipinos who were in the labor force out of the estimated 77.61 million Filipinos 15 years old and over in 2023. (Table 1)

Among the regions, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) registered the highest LFPR at 74.1 percent, while Region V (Bicol Region) posted the lowest LFPR at 61.5 percent. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

Sulu registered the highest LFPR in 2023

Among provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and other areas (such as the Municipality of Pateros, Isabela City, and Cotabato City), Sulu registered the highest LFPR at 87.3 percent in 2023. In terms of magnitude, this translates to 518 thousand Filipinos who were either employed or unemployed. On the other hand, Tawi-Tawi registered the lowest LFPR at 51.2 percent. (Table 1)

Moreover, the percentage of provinces, HUCs, and other areas with LFPRs of at least 71.00 percent increased from 11 out of 117 provinces, HUCs and other areas in 2022 to 17 out of 118 provinces, HUCs and other areas in 2023. On the other hand, five provinces, HUCs and other areas recorded LFPRs of less than 56.00 percent in 2023 compared to only one province in the previous year. (Tables 1 and 1a)

Figure 2 shows that among the provinces, HUCs and other areas, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Mountain Province, Bukidnon, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Sarangani and Lanao del Sur consistently belonged to the group with LFPR of at least 71.00 percent in 2022 and 2023 (dark green-shade). On the other hand, the provinces of Camarines Norte and Tawi-Tawi; and HUCs of Zamboanga City, Baguio City, and Isabela City belonged to the group with LFPR of less than 56.0 percent in 2023 (dark red-shade). (Figure 2 and Table 1)

 Employment rate registered at 95.7 percent

The employment rate in 2023 was estimated at 95.7 percent, corresponding to 48.19 million Filipinos who had a job or business out of the 50.38 million in the labor force. (Tables 1 and 2)

Among the regions, Region II (Cagayan Valley) had the highest employment rate of 97.6 percent, while National Capital Region (NCR) had the lowest employment rate of 94.1 percent.

The following regions registered employment rates lower than the national estimate of 95.7 percent: NCR (94.1%), Region IV-A (CALABARZON) (94.6%), Region X (Northern Mindanao) (94.7%), Region I (Ilocos Region) (95.0%), and Region V (Bicol Region) (95.2%). (Table 2 and Figure 3)

Among provinces, HUCs, and other areas, Mountain Province registered the highest employment rate of 99.1 percent in 2023 or about 81 thousand employed persons out of 82 thousand persons in the labor force in the province. This followed by Sulu (98.9%), Kalinga (98.8%), and Nueva Ecija (98.8%). (Tables 1 and 2)

Comparing the percentage distribution of provinces, HUCs and other areas by employment rate in 2022 and 2023, more provinces recorded employment rates of at least 96.00 percent (52.5% or 62 out of 118 provinces, HUCs, and other areas) in 2023 compared to 29.9% or 35 out of 117 provinces, HUCs, and other areas in 2022. (Tables 2 and 2a, and Figure 4)

Unemployment rate reached 4.3 percent

Of the 50.38 million persons 15 years old and over in the labor force, 2.19 million were unemployed, which translates to an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent in 2023.

NCR registered the highest unemployment rate in 2023 of 5.9 percent, while Region II had the lowest unemployment rate of 2.4 percent. (Tables 1 and 3)

Unemployment rates of NCR (5.9%), Region IVA (CALABARZON) (5.4%), Region X (Northern Mindanao) (5.3%), Region I (Ilocos Region) (5.0%), and Region V (Bicol Region) (4.8%) were higher than the national figure of 4.3 percent in 2023. (Table 3 and Figure 5)

Among provinces, HUCs, and other areas, Isabela City had the highest unemployment rate of 9.9 percent. This translates to a total of five thousand unemployed persons out of 48 thousand persons in Isabela City’s labor force in 2023. (Tables 1 and 3)

Meanwhile, Table 3a illustrates the percentage distribution of provinces, HUCs and other areas in unemployment rate in 2022 and 2023. It can be observed that the number of provinces, HUCs and other areas with an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent or higher decreased in 2023 compared to 2022. On the other hand, more provinces, HUCs and other areas had unemployment rates of less than 2.0 percent in 2023, with 11 out of 118 provinces, HUCs and other areas compared to only four provinces or 3.4 percent of the 117 provinces, HUCs and other areas in 2022. (Tables 3 and 3a, and Figure 6)

Underemployment rate was lower at 12.3 percent

Employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or an additional job, or a new job with longer working hours are considered underemployed.

The total number of underemployed persons was estimated at 5.95 million or 12.3 percent of the total number of employed persons in 2023. (Table 4) 

During the period, Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) posted the highest underemployment rate of 25.3 percent, while Region VII (Central Visayas) registered the lowest underemployment rate of 6.0 percent.

The regions with underemployment rates lower than the national estimate were the following: Region VII (Central Visayas) (6.0%), Region XI (Davao Region) (6.6%), Region III (Central Luzon) (6.7%), NCR (8.1%), Region I (Ilocos Region) (10.4%), BARMM (10.6%), Region II (Cagayan Valley) (10.7%), Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) (12.0%), and Region X (Northern Mindanao) (12.1%). (Table 4 and Figure 7)

In 2023, two provinces and one HUC or 2.5 percent of the total provinces, HUCs, and other areas had underemployment rates of at least 40.00 percent. In 2022, this was lower at 1.7 percent or two out of 117 provinces, HUCs, and other areas. In contrast, there were more provinces, HUCs and other areas with underemployment rates lower than 10.00 percent in 2023 than in 2022. (Tables 4 and 4a)

 Sarangani had the highest underemployment rate

Among the provinces, HUCs, and other areas, Sarangani registered the highest underemployment rate of 47.1 percent in 2023. Camarines Sur (44.7%) and General Santos City (42.0%) also posted underemployment rates greater than 40.0 percent. (Table 4)

In 2022, there were two provinces with underemployment rates greater than 40.0 percent (red-shaded provinces), namely, Agusan del Sur (47.7%) and Basilan (40.2%). (Table 4 and Figure 8)

(Sgd.) CLAIRE DENNIS S. MAPA, PhD
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General

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