The employment rate of the Ilocos Region in January 2021 was estimated at 90.7 percent. This was lower by 0.5 percentage points compared with the 91.2 percent employment rate of the region in January 2020. However, it increased by 2.2 percentage points from the 88.5 percent employment rate in October 2020.

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in January 2021 and October 2020 were both marked at 61.7 percent, a decline of 1.7 percentage points from the 63.3 percent in January 2020. 

The underemployment rate of the region in January 2021 increased to 16.9 percent from 16.7 percent and 16.1 percent rates in October 2020 and January 2020, respectively.

Ilocos Region’s unemployment rate was estimated at 9.3 percent in January 2021, higher by 0.4 percentage points compared to 8.8 percent in January 2020. On the other hand, it declined by 2.2 percentage points from the 11.5 percent unemployment rate in the previous quarter.

Across regions, Ilocos Region posted the 4^th lowest employment rate in January 2021. CALABARZON posted the lowest employment rate at 86.9 percent, while Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the highest with 96.4 percent employment rate.