Almost two-thirds of the 15 years old and over population were in the labor force

Based on the 2023 Annual Labor Force Survey (LFS), the labor force participation rate (LFPR) in the MIMAROPA region was 63.6 percent. This means that in every 1,000 of the 15 years old and over population, there were 636 persons who were part of the labor force. In MIMAROPA, the population 15 years old and over totaled 2,140.07 thousand and an estimate of 1,360.46 thousand persons were in the labor force, slightly lower by -1.9 percent, from the 1,383.78 thousand labor force participation in 2022. (Table A)

Among the provinces and highly urbanized city in the MIMAROPA Region, Palawan recorded the highest labor participation rate at 66.5 percent, while the province of Marinduque registered the lowest LFPR at 60.2 percent. (Figure 1)

The City of Puerto Princesa registered an increase in LFPR of 2.8 percent, while the province of Oriental Mindoro had a decrement of -5.8 percent in its labor force participation in 2023. (Figure 1)
 

Palawan’s percentage of employment at 97.3 exceeded the regional rate

In 2023, employment rate in the MIMAROPA region was estimated at 96.4 percent, corresponding to 1,311.06 thousand individuals who were working, out of the 1,360.46 thousand in the labor force. (Table B)

Employment was highest in the province of Palawan with 406.99 thousand employed individuals or 97.3 percent of the labor force in the province. On the other hand, the lone HUC of the region, City of Puerto Princesa, recorded the lowest employment rate at 95.9 percent. (Table B)

Unemployment rate of MIMAROPA was recorded at 3.6 percent

In terms of unemployment in the region, 49.41 thousand individuals were unemployed, which means 3.6 percent of the labor force had no job or business. The province of Oriental Mindoro with 4.4 unemployment rate surpassed the regional figure, along with City of Puerto Princesa and the province of Occidental Mindoro with 4.1 and 4.0 percent, respectively. (Table C)
 

Two out of ten individuals in MIMAROPA were underemployed

According to the results of the 2023 LFS, number of underemployed in the MIMAROPA region registered a total of 267.73 thousand individuals who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. This translates to 20.4 percent of the 15 years old and over population of the region. (Table D)

In the MIMAROPA region, the lowest underemployment rate was recorded at 13.0 for the province of Romblon, while most underemployed individuals were accounted in Oriental Mindoro at 24.6 percent or a total of 77.03 thousand individuals. (Table D)

MIMAROPA’s employment positively changed in 2023

Compared to the level of employment in 2022, the MIMAROPA region posted a 0.8 percent change in the number of employed individuals in 2023, translating to a -0.8 and -1.8 percent decrement in unemployment and underemployment, respectively. (Figure 2)

Moreover, the province of Oriental Mindoro recorded the highest increase in employment by 1.3 percent, while Romblon slightly decreased by -0.02 percent. In terms of unemployment, Marinduque and Palawan had the same level of decline in individuals having no job or business at 1.1 percent in 2023. On the other hand, a reduction in the number of underemployed population was recorded in the province of Oriental Mindoro at -16.0 percent. Inversely, Occidental Mindoro had an increase in the level of underemployment with a 9.1 percentage change. (Figure 2)

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

MLLM / OHG / EVC / MTYAD