Fifty-nine percent of the population 15 years old and over were in the labor force

In July 2023, Davao Region's total population 15 years old and over was estimated at 3.79 million. Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) during this period was at 59.0 percent, accounting for 2.24 million Davaoeños (see Table 1). This is 3.7 percentage point lower compared to the LFPR of July 2022 for 62.7 percent; i.e. 93 thousand less Davaoeños in the labor force in 2023 than in 2022.

Among the 17 Regions, Caraga Region reported the highest LFPR at 64.6 percent, while Bicol Region has the lowest rate at 57.2 percent. Seven regions have lower LFPR than the national estimate at 60.1 percent: NCR, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, BARMM, and Bicol Region. Comparing to July 2022's LFPR, SOCCSKSARGEN have the highest decrease in terms of percentage points from 73.6 percent to 62.9 percent in July 2023.

Davao Region’s employment rate attained 96.5 percent

Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to the total in the labor force in Davao Region was at 96.5 percent in July 2023. This is an estimated of 139 thousand less Davaoeños with work compared to April 2023. In addition, Davao Region's employment rate for July 2023 was higher than the national estimate of 95.2 percent.

Cagayan Valley has the highest employment rate among all regions at 96.7 percent, 1.5 percentage points higher than the national estimate. Nine other regions recorded higher employment rate compared to the national employment rate: Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, BARMM, CAR, MIMAROPA, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula. Bicol Region showed the highest decrease of 2.3 percentage points from April 2023 at 96.1 percent to July 2023 at 93.8 percent.

Unemployment rate was recorded at 3.5 percent

In July 2023, Davao Region posted an unemployment rate at 3.5 percent. This is higher compared to April 2023 unemployment rate with 3.3 percent and 1.3 percentage points lower than the national estimate of 4.8 percent.

Unemployment rates in seven regions of the country reporting higher than the national estimate of 4.8 percent in July 2023 were: Bicol Region (6.2%), CALABARZON (5.9%), Central Visayas (5.5%), Northern Mindanao (5.4%), Caraga (5.1%), Eastern Visayas (5.1%), and NCR (4.9%).

Davao Region’s Underemployment rate in the country is at 13.8 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 July 2023, 13.8 percent of total employed Davaoeños reported to be underemployed. The underemployment rate for July 2023 was higher by 5.0 percentage points than April 2023 (8.7%).

MIMAROPA has the highest underemployment rate with 27.9 percent which is 12 percentage points higher than the national estimate. Nine other regions with underemployment rate higher than the national estimate of 15.9 percent were: MIMAROPA, Eastern Visayas, Cagayan Valley, SOCCSKSARGEN, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Western Visayas, CAR, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao.

APPROVED FOR RELEASE :                                                                                  

RANDOLPH ANTHONY B. GALES

(Chief Statistical Specialist)

Officer-In-Charge

Regional Statistical Services Office XI