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

The number of persons who were in the labor force was at 2.22 million of the estimated 3.64 million population 15 years old and over of Davao Region in 2021. This translates to a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 60.9 percent or 609 in every 1000 of the population aged 15 years and over were either employed or unemployed. This is 1.1 and 3.3 percentage points higher compared to the LFPR of year 2019 and 2020, respectively. (Table 1a)

In year 2021, among the provinces and Highly Urbanized City in Davao Region, Davao City reported the highest LFPR at 63.5 percent, followed by Davao del Norte at 63.2 percent. On the other hand, Davao Occidental has the lowest rate at 56.6 percent. The provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro recorded 59.3 percent, 57.8 percent and 57.0 percent, respectively. (Figure 1)

Davao de Oro registers the highest employment rate in 2021

About 95.2 percent of the working-age population who were economically active or those who belong to the labor force in Davao Region are employed in 2021. This is 1.0 percentage points lower than 2019 and 4.4 percentage points higher than 2020. Davao Region’s employment rate for 2021 attained higher than the national estimate of 92.2 percent by 3 percentage points. (Table 1a)

Davao de Oro (97.1%) and Davao del Sur (96.8%) recorded the highest employment rate in Davao Region for year 2021. On the contrary, Davao City recorded the lowest employment rate with 93.7 percent in 2021. This is 1.9 percentage points lower compared to 2019 and 8.1 percentage points higher than 2020. Moreover, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental had employment rates more than 90.0 percent in 2021. (Figure 2)

Unemployment rate of Davao Region is at 4.8 percent

Davao Region posted an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in year 2021, which is equivalent to 106 thousand Davaoeños. This is lower compared to 3.8 percent in 2019 and significantly higher compared to 9.2 percent in 2020. (Table 1a)

Davao City has the highest unemployment rate in year 2021 at 6.3 percent, accounting 51 thousand individuals. This was followed by Davao Oriental at 5.5 percent. The provinces of Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Davao de Oro recorded unemployment rate less than 5 percent in the same year. (Figure 3)

Davao Region’s Underemployment rate in the country is at 9.7 percent

Underemployed persons are employed persons who: expressed their desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work. In year 2021, 9.7 percent of total employed Davaoeños reported to be underemployed. The underemployment rate for 2021 is lower by 1.4 percentage point than the underemployment rate posted in 2019 (11.1%). In 2020, underemployment rate was 13.0 percent. (Table 1a)

Davao Occidental recorded the highest underemployment rate in year 2021 at 4.2 percent, followed by Davao Oriental (20.0%), Davao del Norte (12.7%), Davao de Oro (10.2%) and Davao del Sur (7.9%). On the other hand, Davao City has the lowest underemployment rate at 3.2 percent. (Figure 4)

APPROVED FOR RELEASE :

RANDOLPH ANTHONY B. GALES

(Chief Statistical Specialist)

Officer-In-Charge

Regional Statistical Services Office XI