Davao Oriental’s total workforce was at 223,893 persons

Persons in the labor force or economically active population include all persons 15 years old and over as of their last birthday who are either employed or unemployed. In 2020, Davao Oriental’s total population 15 years old and over was at 390,606 persons. The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) during this period was estimated at 57.3 percent, accounting for about 223,893 economically active Oryental Davaoeños (see Table 1). This figure is 1.29 and 0.29 percentage points lower compared to the estimated LFPR in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

LFPR is the percentage of the total number of persons in the labor force to the total population 15 years old and over.

Among provinces and Highly Urbanized City (HUC) in Davao Region, Davao Oriental’s 57.3 percent LFPR in 2020 ranked fourth following Davao Occidental (61.0 percent), Davao City (58.8 percent) and Davao del Norte (58.7 percent). LFPR was lowest in Davao del Sur at 53.6 percent (see Figure 1)

Employment rate decreased to 90.7 percent The province’s employment rate was estimated at 90.7 percent in 2020. This means that there were around 202,963 working-age population who were economically active or those who belong to the labor force were employed during the year. This figure is lower by 4.7 and 6.7 percentage points compared with the employment rates in 2018 and 2019, respectively. (See Table 1)

During the three-year period, highest employment rate was noted in 2019 at 97.4 percent or 215,988 employed persons. This was followed by the estimated employment rate in 2018 at 95.3 percent or equivalent to 219,409 employed persons. The employment rate in 2020 was the lowest in the three-year period. (See Figure 2)

Employment rate is defined as the percentage of the total number of employed persons to the total number of persons in the labor force. Employed persons include all those who, during the reference period are at work or those with a job but not at work.

Among provinces and HUC in Davao Region, Davao Oriental’s employment rate ranked fifth next to Davao del Sur (92.2 percent, Davao de Oro (93.7 percent), and Davao del Norte (95.2 percent). The highest employment rate was recorded in Davao Occidental at 96.4 percent. Meanwhile, Davao City had the lowest employment rate estimated at 85.6 percent. (See Figure 3)

Davao Oriental posted an unemployment rate of 9.3 percent

Unemployment rate is the percentage of the total number of unemployed persons to the total number of persons in the labor force. Davao Oriental’s unemployment rate rose to 9.3 percent in 2020. This is equivalent to 20,930 unemployed persons. This was significantly higher than the estimated unemployment rates in 2018 and 2019 at 4.7 and 2.6 percent, respectively. (See Table 1)

Unemployed persons include all those who, during the period, were without work, currently available for work, and those seeking work or not seeking for work due to various reasons.

During the three-year period, the lowest unemployment rate was recorded in 2019 at 2.6 percent or equivalent to 5,812 unemployed persons. The unemployment rate in 2018 was at 4.7 percent which translates to about 10,749 unemployed persons. (See Figure 4)

Davao Oriental’s unemployment rate of 9.3 percent ranked as second highest unemployment rate among provinces and HUC in Davao Region in the year 2020. Highest unemployment rate was noted in Davao City at 14.4 percent which accounted for about 105 thousand individuals. The provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte recorded an unemployment rate of less than 8 percent in the same year. Davao Occidental had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.6 percent. (See Figure 5)

Underemployment rate was recorded at 8.7 percent

Of the total employed persons in Davao Oriental for the year 2020, 8.7 percent reported to be underemployed which is equivalent to 17,611 persons. The underemployment rate in 2020 was higher by 3.9 percentage points than the underemployment rate posted in 2019 (4.8 percent). In 2018, underemployment rate in the province was at 17.6 percent. (See Table 1)

Underemployment rate is the percentage of the total number of underemployed persons to the total number of employed persons. Underemployed are persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or in an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours.

During the three-year period, lowest underemployment rate was recorded in 2019 at 4.8 percent which is equivalent to 10,412 persons. Highest underemployment rate was noted in 2018 at 17.6 percent or 38,533 persons. (See Figure 6)

The province’s underemployment rate in 2020 was the second lowest underemployment rate in Davao Region next to Davao City’s 6.3 percent. Highest underemployment rate was noted in Davao Occidental at 26.8 percent, followed by Davao de Oro (24.8 percent), Davao del Norte (15.8 percent) and Davao del Sur (8.9 percent). (See Figure 7)

Approved for Release:

ROGELIO T. LEBRIA

Chief Statistical Specialist