ARMM has highest January employment rate in PH

DAVAO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) posted an employment rate of 97.4 percent in January 2018, the highest among the 17 regions in the country.

A report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that ARMM, composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and TawiTawi and cities of Lamitan and Marawi, surpassed its employment percentage of 95.7 percent in January 2017.

The other regions of Mindanao performed above the national average of 94.7 percent.

The five-province Northern Mindanao (Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental) recorded the second highest employment rate at 97 percent, which increased from 94.5 percent in January 2017.

According to the PSA report, Zamboanga Peninsula’s employment rate was at 96.6 percent; Soccsksargen, 96.2 percent; Caraga, 96; and Davao Region, 95.3 percent.

However, the PSA said that the ARMM was the least in terms of labor force participation rate (LFPR) at 46.1 percent.

LFPR is the section of the working population aged 15 years old and above, which is currently employed or seeking employment.

This was far lower compared to the national average of 62.2 percent, indicating that six in 10 of the population aged 15 years and over were either employed or seeking employment, PSA report said.

It noted that with an estimated 70.9 million Filipinos aged 15 years old and above, the number of persons in the labor force from this group is 44.1 million in January 2018.

It said the Northern Mindanao had the highest reported LFPR with 72 percent.

At least 61.7 percent of the estimated 41.8 million employed persons in January 2018 were males while 38.3 percent were females, it said.