The preliminary results of the Annual Labor and Employment Estimates for 2017 based on the average of the four (4) LFS rounds (January, April, July and October) reported an annual labor force participation rate of 61.2 percent out of 69.9 million population 15 years old and over.

The employment rate in October 2017 was estimated at 95.0 percent. In October 2016, the employment rate was 95.3 percent.

Regions with lowest employment rates were Ilocos Region (91.8%), National Capital Region (NCR) (93.9%), and Central Luzon (94.0%) (Table 4). The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in October 2017 was estimated at 62.1 percent given the population 15 years old and over of 70.4 million. The LFPR in October 2016 was 63.6 percent. The labor force population consists of the employed and the unemployed 15 years old and over.