Northern Mindanao registered the highest labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 69.8 percent nationwide in 2021. This translates to a total number of 2.410 million individuals who were 15 years old and over and were either employed or unemployed in the year 2021. This LFPR is higher by 3.5 percentage points than the 2020 annual estimate which registered at 66.3 percent. Also, this regional LFPR is higher by 6.5 percentage points than the national estimate of 63.3 percent.

Bukidnon registered the highest labor force participation rate among provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) nationwide

The province of Bukidnon posted the highest labor force participation rate among provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) nationwide, registering at 78.3 percent or 808 thousand individuals. Within the region, the province of Misamis Oriental ranked next to Bukidnon with a 71.3 percent labor force participation rate, while the City of Iligan posted the lowest LFPR at 57.3 percent. Only the provinces of Bukidnon (78.3%), Misamis Occidental (70.4%), and Misamis Oriental (71.3%) registered LFPR higher than the regional estimate.

Regional employment rate increases to 95.1 percent

The employment rate in the region increased to 95.1 percent in 2021, higher by 1.5 percentage points compared to the 93.6 percent employment rate the previous year. This amounts to a total of 2.291 million employed persons. Among provinces and HUCs in the region, Lanao del Norte recorded the highest employment rate of 97.6 percent while the City of Cagayan de Oro recorded the lowest employment rate of 90.7 percent.

The regional employment rate was higher by 2.9 percentage points than the 92.2 percent national estimate. All provinces and HUCs in the region had higher employment rates than the national estimate except for Camiguin (92.0%) and the City of Cagayan de Oro (90.7%). However, within the region, only Bukidnon (96.5%), Lanao del Norte (97.6%), and Misamis Oriental (95.5%) surpassed the regional estimate.

City of Iligan registers the lowest underemployment rate

The underemployment rate in the region decreased to 14.3 percent in 2021 from 23.6 percent in 2020. This translates to 327,000 employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job or have a new job with longer working hours. This regional underemployment rate is lower than the national average by 1.6 percentage points.

Among provinces and HUCs in the region, the City of Iligan posted the lowest underemployment rate of 5.0 percent, followed by Lanao del Norte at 6.9 percent. On the other hand, the province of Bukidnon registers the highest underemployment rate at 23.2 percent, followed by the province of Camiguin (21.3%) and Misamis Occidental (11.9%).

Lanao del Norte records the lowest unemployment rate

The unemployment rate in the region registered at 4.9 percent, lower by 1.5 percentage points than the 2020 annual estimate of 6.4 percent. This translates to 119,000 unemployed persons in the total labor force of Northern Mindanao. Also, this regional unemployment rate is lower by 2.9 percentage points than the national estimate.

Among provinces and HUCs in the region, Lanao del Norte posted the lowest unemployment rate of 2.4 percent, equivalent to seven thousand unemployed persons. Meanwhile, the City of Cagayan de Oro recorded the highest unemployment rate in the region at 9.3 percent, equivalent to 30 thousand unemployed persons.

TECHNICAL NOTES OF THE LABOR FORCE SURVEY

Employment Status Concepts

• Population 15 Years Old and Over

This refers to a number of the population 15 years old and over excluding overseas workers. Overseas workers are excluded in the estimation of the size of the working population (population aged 15 years and over) since the data on their economic characteristics are not collected because they are not considered part of the labor force in the country.

• In the Labor Force or Economically Active Population

This refers to persons 15 years old and over who are either employed or unemployed following the definitions described as follows:

Employed

Employed persons include all those who, during the reference period are 15 years old and over as of their last birthday and are reported either:

• At work. Those who do any work even for one hour during the reference period for pay or profit, or work without pay on the farm or business enterprise operated by a member of the same household related by blood, marriage, or adoption; or

• With a job but not at work. Those who have a job or business but are not at work because of temporary illness or injury, vacation, or other reasons. Likewise, persons who expect to report for work or to start the operation of a farm or business enterprise within two weeks from the date of the enumerator’s visit are considered employed

Underemployed

Underemployed persons include all employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. Visibly underemployed persons are those who work for less than 40 hours during the reference period and want additional hours of work.

Unemployed

Unemployed persons include all those who, during the reference period, are 15 years old and over as of their last birthday and reported as:

• Without work, i.e., had no job or business during the reference period; and

• Currently available for work, i.e., were available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment during the reference period, and/or would be available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the interview date; and

• Seeking work, i.e., had taken specific steps to look for a job or establish a business during the reference period, or not seeking work due to the following reasons: (1) tired or believed no work available, i.e., discouraged workers; (2) awaiting results of a previous job application; (3) temporary illness or disability; (4) bad weather; and/or (5) waiting for rehire or job recall.

(Sgd.) VIRGIE A. GAYLA
(Chief Administrative Officer)
Officer-in-Charge