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

In October 2023, Davao Region's total population 15 years old and over was estimated at 3.78 million. Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) during this period was  at 63.9 percent, accounting for 2.42 million Davaoeños (see Table 1). This is 1.8 percentage point higher compared to the LFPR of October 2022 for 62.1 percent; i.e. 105 thousand more Davaoeños in the labor force in 2023 than in 2022.

Among the 17 Regions, BARMM reported the highest LFPR at 74.0 percent, while Zamboanga Peninsula has the lowest rate at 59.7 percent. Nine regions have lower LFPR than the national estimate at 63.9 percent: Eastern Visayas (63.6%), Ilocos Region (63.6%), Central Luzon (62.8%), Western Visayas (62.7%), Bicol Region (62.6%), CALABARZON (62.2%), NCR (61.8%), MIMAROPA (61.0%), and Zamboanga Peninsula (59.7%). Comparing to October 2022's LFPR, Caraga has the highest increase in terms of percentage points from 67.2 percent in 2022 to 71.0 percent in 2023.

Davao Region attained highest employment rate at 97.1 percent among regions

Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons of the total labor force in Davao Region was at 97.1 percent in October 2023. This is an estimated of 187 thousand more Davaoeños with work compared to July 2023. 

In addition, Davao Region reported the highest employment rate among all regions. Davao Region's employment rate for October 2023 was higher than the national estimate of 95.8 percent. Nine other regions recorded higher employment rate compared to the national employment rate: SOCCSKSARGEN (96.8%), BARMM (96.7%), Central Luzon (96.7%), CAR (96.7%), Caraga (96.7%), Western Visayas (96.6%), Cagayan Valley (96.3%), MIMAROPA (96.2%), and Central Visayas (96.0%). Bicol Region showed the highest increase of 2.0 percentage points from July 2023 at 93.8 percent to October 2023 at 95.8 percent.

Unemployment rate was recorded at 2.9 percent 

In October 2023, Davao Region posted an unemployment rate at 2.9 percent. This is lower compared to July 2023 unemployment rate with 3.5 percent and 1.3 percentage points lower than the national estimate of 4.2 percent.

Unemployment rates in five regions of the country reporting higher than the national estimate of 4.2 percent in October 2023 were: NCR (5.4%), CALABARZON (5.3%), Zamboanga Peninsula (4.8%), Ilocos Region (4.7%), and Northern Mindanao (4.6%).

Davao Region’s Underemployment rate in the country is at 7.3 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 October 2023, 7.3 percent of total employed Davaoeños reported to be underemployed. The underemployment rate for October 2023 was lower by 6.5 percentage points than July 2023 (13.8%).

Bicol Region has the highest underemployment rate with 27.7 percent which is 16 percentage points higher than the national estimate. Eight other regions with underemployment rate higher than the national estimate of 11.7 percent were: SOCCSKSARGEN (25.2%), MIMAROPA (23.3%), Eastern Visayas (19.8%), CAR (18.0%), Caraga (15.8%), Western Visayas (14.8%), Cagayan Valley (12.8%), and Ilocos Region (11.8%).

APPROVED FOR RELEASE    :                            

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