Sixty-four in every 100 persons aged 15 years old and over are economically active in July 2024

In Central Luzon, 64 in every 100 persons or an estimated 5.9 million individuals aged 15 years old and over were economically active and in the labor force in July 2024.
Eight regions, including Central Luzon, registered higher Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) than the national rate of 63.5 percent. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remained having the highest LFPR at 72.0 percent followed by Caraga (Region XIII) at 69.8 percent. Meanwhile, Ilocos Region (Region I) posted the lowest LFPR at 60.0 percent followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) at 60.5 percent. (Figure 1)
 

Employment rate in Central Luzon recorded at 96.2 percent
Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to the total labor force in Central Luzon was recorded at 96.2 percent in July 2024, lower by 0.5 percentage point from 96.7 percent in April 2024. This accounted to 5.7 million employed persons out of the 5.9 million economically active population aged 15 years old and over. (Table A)

Along with Caraga, Central Luzon ranked 6th among regions with the highest employment rate in July 2024. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recorded the highest employment rate at 97.7 percent followed by Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) at 97.2 percent. Meanwhile, National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest employment rate at 93.5 percent. (Figure 2)

Central Luzon’s unemployment rate registered at 3.8 percent
Approximately 228.5 thousand of the estimated 5.9 million economically active population aged 15 years old and over in Central Luzon were unemployed in July 2024, translating to an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent. It is higher by 0.5 percentage point from the 3.3 percent in April 2024.

CAR posted the lowest unemployment rate in July 2024 at 2.3 percent. Meanwhile, NCR recorded the highest unemployment rate at 6.5 percent followed by Bicol Region (Region V) at 6.0 percent.

Furthermore, eleven (11) regions, including Central Luzon, recorded unemployment rates lower than the national rate of 4.7 percent. (Figure 3)

Underemployment rate decreased to 6.0 percent
Underemployment rate was recorded at 6.0 percent of the total employed persons in the region in July 2024, lower by 3.2 percentage points from the 9.2 percent in  April 2024. In terms of magnitude, underemployed persons were estimated at 345.4 thousand persons. Underemployed persons refer to 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.
Central Luzon ranked 4th among regions with the lowest underemployment rate. Davao Region (Region XI) registered the lowest underemployment rate at 3.7 percent followed by Ilocos Region at 5.5 percent.

On the other hand, SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) retained its rank by having the highest underemployment rate in July 2024 at 29.3 percent. This was followed by Bicol Region and Northern Mindanao (Region X) at 21.2 percent and 19.0 percent, respectively. (Figure 4)

ARLENE M. DIVINO
Regional Director
PSA RSSO 03
 

TECHNICAL NOTES

The Labor Force Survey (LFS) is a nationwide monthly survey of households conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population. 
The reference period for this survey is "past week" or the past seven (7) days preceding the date of visit of the enumerator or field interviewer.

The concepts and definitions used in the survey can be found in PSA-ISH Bulletins. Some are given below:

Labor Force refers to the population 15 years old and over who contribute or seek to contribute to the production of goods and services as defined in the system of National Account production boundary. It comprises the employed and unemployed.

Employed refers to persons in the labor force who are reported either as at work or with a job or business although not at work. Persons at work are those who did some work, even for an hour during the reference period.
 

Unemployed refers to persons in the labor force who are reported as: 
1) without work; 
2) currently available for work; and 
3) seeking work or not seeking work due to the following reasons: 
    i) tired/believed that no work is available, or 
    ii) awaiting results of previous job application, or 
    iii) because of temporary illness or disability, or
    iv) bad weather, or 
    v) waiting for rehire or job recall. 
The new definition of unemployed was adopted starting April 2005 per NSCB Resolution No. 15 dated October 20, 2004.
The old definition of unemployed considered only two criteria:
1)  Without work and looking for work; or
2)  Without work and not looking for work due to reasons cited in 3(i) to 3(v). 
 

Underemployed refers to employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or an additional job, or have a new job with longer working hours.
Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is the proportion of total labor force to the total household population 15 years and over.

Employment Rate is the proportion of employed persons to the total labor force. 
 

Unemployment Rate is the proportion of unemployed persons to the total labor force. 
Underemployment Rate is the proportion of underemployed persons to total employed persons.