In October 2020, 478 thousand of the 5 million economically active population aged 15 years old and over were unemployed translating to an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent. This was 1.3 percentage point lower compared with 10.9 percent unemployment rate in July 2020. (see Table A).
Central Luzon (Region III) ranked fifth highest among regions with unemployment rate of 9.6 percent in October 2020. National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the highest unemployment rate at 12.4 percent. Ilocos Region (Region I) ranked second with 11.5 percent, followed by CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and Central Visayas (Region VII) with 11.0 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) registered the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4 percent, followed by Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) at 5.3 percent and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 5.5 percent. (see Figure 1)
Employment rate was recorded at 90.4 percent
Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to the total labor force in Central Luzon was recorded at 90.4 percent in October 2020. This brought the number of employed persons at 4.5 million. Five regions including Central Luzon, had employment rates below the national rate of 91.3 percent, namely National Capital Region (NCR) 87.6 percent, Ilocos Region (Region I) 88.5 percent, CALABARZON (Region IV-A) 89.0 percent, Central Visayas (Region VII) 90.1 percent, and Central Luzon (Region III) at 90.4 percent. (see Figure 2)
Six in every ten persons aged 15 years old and over are economically active in October 2020
Six in every ten persons aged 15 years old and over are economically active or are in the labor force in October 2020. This also translates that about 5 million of the 8.7 million persons in October 2020 are either employed or unemployed. (see Figure 3)
Central Luzon ranked seventh with 57.3 percent from among the regions with LFPR lower than the national rate of 58.7 percent. Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) recorded the lowest rate at 55.7 percent. On the other hand, Caraga (Region XIII) and Northern Mindanao (Region X) recorded the highest LFPR at 63.8 percent.
Underemployment rate was registered at 8.0 percent
Underemployed persons defined as employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional job, or have a new job with longer working hours were estimated at 8.0 percent of the total employed persons in the region.
Central Luzon (Region III) had the lowest underemployment rate of 8.0 percent among the regions, while Bicol Region (Region V) recorded the highest at 29.1 percent. Central Luzon (Region III) is also one of the nine regions in the country with underemployment rates lower than the national figure of 14.4 percent. (see Figure 4)
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority