Sixty-two percent of the population 15 years old and over were in the labor force 
In April 2024, Davao Region's total population 15 years old and over was estimated at 3.82 million. The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in April 2024 was posted at 61.9 percent, lower than the reported LFPR in April 2023 at 63.2 percent and higher than January 2024 at 60.7 percent (see Table 1). The LFPR in April 2024 translates to 2.36 million Davaoeños aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force, or those who were either employed or unemployed. The number of individuals aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force in April 2023 was 2.38 million, while 2.32 million were in the labor force in January 2024.
 

Among the 17 Regions, BARMM reported the highest LFPR at 71.2 percent, while Zamboanga Peninsula has the lowest rate at 59.6 percent. Eight regions have lower LFPR than the national estimate of 64.1 percent: Central Visayas (63.7%), CAR (63.5%), Eastern Visayas (62.4%), Western Visayas (62.4%), NCR (62.3%), Davao Region (61.9%), Bicol Region (60.7%), and Zamboanga Peninsula (59.6%). Caraga has the highest decrease in terms of percentage points from 75.9 percent LFPR in April 2023 to 68.3 percent in April 2024.

Davao Region’s employment rate at 96.4 percent

Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons of the total labor force in Davao Region was at 96.4 percent in April 2024. This was lower than the employment rate in April 2023 and January 2024 both at 96.7 percent. However, in terms of levels, the number of employed persons in April 2024 was posted at 2.28 million, lower than the number of employed persons in the same month last year at 2.30 million. In January 2024, the number of employed persons was estimated at 2.24 million.
 

Davao Region's employment rate for April 2024 was higher than the national estimate of 96.0 percent. Eight other regions recorded higher employment rate compared to the national employment rate: Zamboanga Peninsula (97.7%), BARMM (97.0%), Eastern Visayas (97.0%), Central Luzon (96.7%), Ilocos Region (96.5%), Cagayan Valley (96.4%), CAR (96.2%), and SOCCSKSARGEN (96.2%). Bicol Region showed the highest decrease of 1.5 percentage points from April 2023 at 96.1 percent to April 2024 at 94.6 percent.

Unemployment rate was recorded at 3.6 percent 

Unemployment rate of Davao Region in April 2024 is at 3.6 percent, which is higher than the same month of the previous year at 3.3 percent. Unemployment rate in January 2024 was recorded at 3.3 percent. In terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed individuals in April 2024 was estimated at 85 thousand. This was higher than the reported number unemployed persons in April 2023 and January 2024 of 78 thousand and 76 thousand, respectively.
 

Five regions of the country reporting higher unemployment rate than the national estimate of 4.0 percent in April 2024 were: Bicol Region (5.4%), CALABARZON (5.3%), NCR (4.4%), Northern Mindanao (4.4%), and MIMAROPA (4.1 %)

Davao Region’s Underemployment rate is at 7.1 percent 

In April 2024, 7.1 percent of total employed Davaoeños reported to be underemployed. This is lower than the recorded rates in April 2023 of 8.7 percent and January 2024 of 14.2 percent. In terms of magnitude, about 168 thousand of the 2.28 million employed individuals expressed 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 hours of work in April 2024.
 

SOCCSKSARGEN has the highest underemployment rate with 32.2 percent, 17.6 percentage points higher than the national estimate of 14.6 percent. Eight other regions with underemployment rate higher than the national estimate were: Cagayan Valley (22.6%), MIMAROPA (22.2%), Bicol Region (21.3%), Northern Mindanao (21.1%), Eastern Visayas (20.1%), Caraga (19.5%), CALABARZON (19.1%), and Zamboanga Peninsula (19.1%).

APPROVED FOR RELEASE:                            

RANDOLPH ANTHONY B. GALES
(Chief Statistical Specialist)
Officer-In-Charge
Regional Statistical Services Office XI