Sixty-three percent of the population 15 years old and over were in the labor force 
In July 2024, Davao Region's total population 15 years old and over was estimated at 3.83 million. The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in July 2024 was posted at 62.5 percent, higher than the reported LFPR in July 2023 at 58.1 percent and April 2024 at 61.9 percent (see Table 1). The LFPR in July 2024 translates to 2.39 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 July 2023 was 2.20 million, while 2.37 million were in the labor force in April 2024.

Among the 17 Regions, BARMM reported the highest LFPR at 72.0 percent, while Ilocos Region has the lowest rate at 60.0 percent. Nine regions have lower LFPR than the national estimate of 63.5 percent: CALABARZON (63.0%), Zamboanga Peninsula (62.8%), Cagayan Valley (62.7%), Davao Region (62.5%), NCR (62.0%), Eastern Visayas (61.9%), Bicol Region (60.8%), Western Visayas (60.5%) and Ilocos Region (60.0%). BARMM has the highest increase in terms of percentage points         from 57.5 percent LFPR in July 2023 to 72.0 percent in July 2024.

Davao Region’s employment rate at 96.9 percent
Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons of the total labor force in Davao Region was at 96.9 percent in July 2024. This was higher than the employment rate in July 2023 and April 2024 at 96.2 and 96.4 percent, respectively. However, in terms of levels, the number of employed persons in July 2024 was posted at 2.32 million, higher than the number of employed persons in the same month last year at 2.12 million. In April 2024, the number of employed persons was estimated at 2.28 million.
 

Davao Region's employment rate for July 2024 was higher than the national estimate of 95.3 percent. Ten other regions recorded higher employment rate compared to the national employment rate: CAR (97.7%), Zamboanga Peninsula (97.2%), Cagayan Valley (96.5 %), BARMM (96.3%), Caraga (96.2%), Central Luzon (96.2%), Eastern Visayas (95.7%), SOCCSKSARGEN (95.7%), MIMAROPA (95.6%), and Central Visayas (95.4%). NCR showed the highest decrease of 1.6 percentage points from July 2023 at 95.1 percent to July 2024 at 93.5 percent.

 
Unemployment rate was recorded at 3.1 percent 
Unemployment rate of Davao Region in July 2024 is at 3.1 percent, which is lower than the same month of the previous year at 3.8 percent. Unemployment rate in April 2024 was recorded at 3.6 percent. In terms of magnitude, the number of unemployed individuals in July 2024 was estimated at 74 thousand. This was lower than the reported number unemployed persons in July 2023 and April 2024 of 83 thousand and 85 thousand, respectively.
 

Six regions of the country reporting higher unemployment rate than the national estimate of 4.7 percent in July 2024 were: NCR (6.5%), Bicol Region (6.0%), Ilocos Region (5.5%), CALABARZON (5.5%), Northern Mindanao (5.3%), and Western Visayas (4.9%).

 
Davao Region’s Underemployment rate is at 3.7 percent 
In July 2024, 3.7 percent of total employed Davaoeños reported to be underemployed. This is lower than the recorded rates in July 2023 of 14.6 percent and April 2024 of 7.1 percent. In terms of magnitude, about 86 thousand of the 2.32 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 July 2024.
 

SOCCSKSARGEN has the highest underemployment rate with 29.3 percent, 17.2 percentage points higher than the national estimate of 12.1 percent. Nine other regions with underemployment rate higher than the national estimate were: Bicol Region (21.2%), Northern Mindanao (19.0%), Cagayan Valley (18.0%), CAR (16.3%), CALABARZON (16.1%), Eastern Visayas (15.9%),  MIMAROPA (15.4%), Caraga (12.9%), and Central Visayas (12.2%).

APPROVED FOR RELEASE    :                            

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