Labor Force Participation Rate

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in January 2021  was estimated at 61.7 percent which translates to 2.2 million persons  who are either employed or unemployed. This is lower than the LFPR  in January 2020 at 63.3 percent and the same with the previous quarter. 

The working population of 15 years old and over in the region declined  by 1.6 percentage points from the 63.3 percent LFPR in January 2020.  In terms of magnitude, there was a decline of 22 thousand individuals  in the labor force in January 2021 from the 2.2 million working population in January 2020.

Nine out of 10 were employed in January 2021

Employed persons in the region January 2021 was estimated  at 90.7 percent. This translates to a total of 2.0 million persons age  15 years old and over out of the 2.2 million who were in the labor force.

Employment Rate in the region decreased by 0.5 percent in January 2021 from 91.2 percent in January 2020. However, it was higher  than the October 2020 employment rate (88.5 percent) by 2.2 percentage points. 

About 16.9 percent were underemployed in January 2021

Underemployment rate or employed persons who expressed desire  to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work was recorded at 16.9 percent in January 2021. This was higher than the 16.1 percent reported in January 2020 and the 16.7 percent record in October 2020.

In terms of numbers, about 337 thousand persons were underemployed in January 2021. In January 2020, there were 325 thousand underemployed persons and 328 thousand underemployed persons reported in October 2020.

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Ilocos Region ranked tenth-highest underemployment rate among  the regions in January 2021 (Figure 4). The rank was lower compared to the January 2020 ranking (ninth-highest) and October 2020 (seventhhighest).

Unemployment rate was estimated at 9.3 percent

Unemployed person includes those who were 15 years old and over without work, currently available for work, and seeking work.  The unemployment rate of the region was estimated at 9.3 percent  or about 203 thousand unemployed persons. This was lower than  the 8.7 percent national unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate in the Ilocos Region increased by 0.5 percentage point from the 8.8 percent unemployment rate in January 2020.  However, it declined by 2.2 percentage points from the 11.5 percent  in October 2020.

The Ilocos Region tied with MIMAROPA in terms of unemployment rate and ranked third-highest among the regions in the country.