Lanao del Norte registers the highest employment rate in 2020

In 2020, Lanao del Norte registered the highest employment rate at 97.5 percent or about 282.15 thousand employed persons out of 289.30 thousand persons in the labor force. (Table 1)

In 2018, 28.2 percent or 33 provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and other urban areas had employment rates of at least 96.0 percent. In 2019, this was higher at 29.9 percent or 35 provinces and HUCs. On the other hand, in 2020, only 7.7 percent, equivalent to 9 of the 117 provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas had employment rates of at least 96.0 percent. It may be recalled that the Philippine labor market was adversely affected by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related economic shutdown in 2020, at which time, 46 provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas posted employment rates lower than the national average of 89.7 percent. (Tables 1 and 1A)

In 2020, nine provinces, namely: Lanao del Norte, Batanes, Masbate, Ilocos Norte, Palawan, Kalinga, Capiz, Davao Occidental, and Agusan del Sur had employment rates of at least 96.0 percent. All of these provinces except Lanao del Norte consistently registered employment rates greater than 96.0 percent in 2018, 2019, and 2020. (Table 1 and Table 1A)

On the other hand, four provinces and HUCs, namely: General Santos City, Pangasinan, Baguio City, and Angeles City had employment rates less than 84.0 percent in 2020 while there were no provinces, HUCs, other urban areas with employment rates less than 84.0 percent in 2018 and 2019. (Tables 1 and 1A)

The maps below show the employment rates by group where the dark green corresponds to the provinces/HUCs with the highest employment rates (at least 96.0 percent); while the dark red corresponds to those with the lowest employment rates (lower than 84.0 percent). Compared to 2018 and 2019, there were provinces and HUCs in 2020 that are shaded in red, as well as yellow, and orange which implies more provinces and HUCs with lower employment rates. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

Mountain Province has the highest labor force participation rate in 2020

Labor force participation rate (LFPR) was highest in Mountain Province in 2020 at 78.1 percent or about 81.60 thousand persons who are either employed or unemployed of the 104.54 thousand persons 15 years old and over. (Table 2)

In 2018, 5.1 percent or 6 of the 117 provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas had LFPRs of at least 70.0 percent, decreasing to 3.4 percent and 4.3 percent, in 2019 and 2020, respectively. (Tables 2 and 2a)

Furthermore, about 7.7 percent or nine provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas had LFPRs less than 56.0 percent in 2019, and worsened during the following year with 16.2 percent or 19 out of 117 provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas in 2020.  (Tables 2 and 2a)

The maps below show that four provinces and HUCs, namely: Mountain Province, Batanes, Agusan del Sur, and Bukidnon consistently belonged to the group of dark green-shaded areas representing an LFPR of at least 70.0 percent over the three years from 2018 to 2020. On the other hand, five areas including Zamboanga City, City of Isabela, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu consistently belonged to the dark red-shaded areas or those with LFPR below 56.0 percent in 2018, 2019, and 2020.  (Figure 2)

Angeles City has the highest unemployment rate in 2020

In 2020, Angeles City had the highest unemployment rate at 23.2 percent or equivalent to about 51.80 thousand unemployed persons out of 223.68 thousand persons in the labor force. This was followed by Baguio City, with unemployment rate registered at 21.0 percent or 28.64 thousand unemployed persons of the 136.57 thousand persons in the labor force. (Table 3)

There were no provinces or HUCs with unemployment rate greater than 16 percent in 2018 and 2019 while there were 3.4 percent or 4 provinces or HUCs in 2020. (Tables 3 and 3a)

Figure 3 presents the unemployment rates among provinces and HUCs over the period of three years. In 2018 and 2019, most of the provinces and HUCs are dark-green and light-green shaded, which implies unemployment rates less than 9.0 percent. In 2020, there were significantly more provinces and HUCs with unemployment rate of at least 9.0 percent.

Marinduque has the highest underemployment rate in 2020

Employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours are considered underemployed. (Table 4)

In 2020, three provinces are shaded in dark red which represents underemployment rate of at least 40.0 percent, these are: Marinduque (46.0%), Bukidnon (41.9%), and Agusan del Sur (41.4%). (Figure 4 and Table 4)

Among the provinces, HUCs, and other urban areas in the Philippines, Bohol, Agusan del Sur, Camarines Sur, and Marinduque consistently belonged to the group with underemployment rate of at least 30.0 percent over the three years.  The maps also show that more provinces and HUCs are shaded with light to dark green in 2018 and 2019 compared to 2020. (Figure 4)

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