Highlights of the April 2021 Labor Force Survey

a. The country’s unemployment rate in April 2021 was estimated at 8.7 percent. This was substantially lower than the record high 17.6 percent in April 2020 but higher compared to the 7.1 percent reported in March 2021. The unemployment rate in April 2021 was the same/ about the same as the rate reported in October 2020 (8.7%), January 2021 (8.7%), and February 2021 (8.8%). (Table A)

b. In terms of magnitude, the total number of unemployed individuals 15 years old and over in April 2021 was registered at 4.14 million. It was lower by 3.09 million from the number of unemployed persons in April 2020 (7.23 million).  (Table A)

c. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in April 2021 was placed at 63.2 percent, translating to 47.41 million who are either employed or unemployed. This is higher than the LFPR in the same quarter last year at 55.7 percent but lower than the LFPR a month ago at 65.0 percent. In terms of magnitude, there was a year-on-year increment of 6.35 million persons in the labor force from the 41.06 million in April 2020. (Table A)

d. Employment rate in the country posted a month-on-month decline in April 2021 when Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)/Modified ECQ was  re-imposed in the National Capital Region and nearby areas: from a 92.9 percent employment rate in March 2021, it dropped to 91.3 percent this April 2021. Employment rate in April 2021 was the same or about the same as the rates in October 2020, and January and February 2021.  In terms of numbers, a total of 43.27 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and over were employed in April 2021, out of the 47.41 million who were in the labor force in the same period.  (Table A)

e. The average weekly hours worked of an employed person increased to 38.0 hours per week in April 2021 from 35.0 hours per week in April 2020. It was, however, lower than the 39.3 hours per week in January 2021. (Table 2)

f. Employed persons reported with job but not at work was estimated at 2.5 percent or 1.1 million in April 2021, higher than the 0.5 percent or 211 thousand in January 2021. This was, however, substantially lower than the April 2020 estimate at 38.5 percent or 13.0 million individuals 15 years old and over. (Table B)

g. Underemployment rate or employed persons who expressed desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work was recorded at 17.2 percent in April 2021. This was lower than the 18.9 percent reported in April 2020 but higher than the January 2021 estimate of 16.0 percent. (Table A)

In terms of magnitude, about 7.45 million persons were reported underemployed in April 2021.  In April 2020, there were 6.40 million underemployed persons and in January 2021, 6.59 million. (Table A)

h. By region, unemployment rate in two regions, namely, National Capital Region (NCR) and Region IV-A (CALABARZON) posted two-digit rates at 14.4 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively. Moreover, NCR (8.8%) and Region II (Cagayan Valley, (6.0%) posted substantial increases in unemployment rates this April 2021 in comparison to the rates in January 2021. (Table 4)

i. Among men and women, the LFPR  was higher among men at 75.0 percent compared to women at 51.4 percent in April 2021. The employment rate for men was 91.5 percent while 90.9 percent for women for the same period. These were both higher compared to the employment rate for men (81.2%) and women (84.4%) in April 2020. Moreover, men had higher underemployment rate 19.0 percent than their women counterpart at 14.6 percent.  (Table D)

j. By broad industry group, the services sector continued to account for the largest share of employed persons with 57.4 percent. The agriculture and the industry sectors accounted for 24.4 percent and 18.2 percent of the employed persons, respectively. (Table 1)

In terms of year-on-year changes in the number of employed persons from April 2020 to April 2021, the following were the top five sub-sectors with the highest increase:
a.  Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor and motorcycles (3.39 million);
b. Agriculture and fishery (1.55 million);
c. Construction (1.35 million);
d. Manufacturing (721 thousand); and
e. Other services sector (439 thousand) (Table B).

In terms of quarter-on-quarter changes in the number of employed persons from January 2021 to April 2021, the following were the top five sub-sectors with the highest increase:
a. Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor and motorcycles (1.21 million);
b. Agriculture and fishery (287 thousand);
c. Manufacturing (280 thousand);
d. Fishing and aquaculture (229 thousand); and
e. Public administration and defense; compulsory social security. (126 thousand)  (Table B)

k. Youth labor force participation rate (LFPR) was placed at 38.2 percent in April 2021. This was higher than the youth LFPR in January 2021 (34.7%) and in April 2020 (32.4%). Youth employment rate increased to 84.2 percent in April 2021 from 80.2 percent in January 2021 and 68.5 percent in April 2020. Among the employed youth, those who reported to be underemployed was estimated at 15.5 percent which was lower than the reported 18.1 percent in April 2020. Youth unemployment rate of 15.8 percent in April 2021 was lower  than the estimates in January 2021 (19.8%) and in April 2020 (31.5%). (Table A)

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General