Chapter III.pdf - NEDA-RDC VI

Table 1
Labor Force and Employment
Region VI, 2001 – 2003
(‘000)
Indicator 2001 2002
Percent
change
2001-2002
2003*
Percent
change
2002-2003
Population (15 years old
and above)
4,056 4,167 2.7 4,263 2.3
Labor Force 2,694 2,821 4.7 2,888 2.4
Labor Force Participation
Rate (%)
66.4 67.7 - 67.7 -
Urban 1,017 1,094 7.6 - -
Rural 1,676 1,727 3.0 - -
Employed 2,388 2,538 6.3 2,596 2.3
Urban 876 971 10.8 - -
Rural 1,512 1,567 3.6 - -
Unemployed 305 283 (7.2) 293 3.5
Urban 141 123 (12.7) - -
Rural 164 160 (2.4) - -
Underemployed 469 534 13.8 - -
Source: National Statistics Office – Labor Force Survey
*No rural / urban disagregation starting in 2003
Employment opportunities are contributed by the services sector,
industry sector and agriculture sector. Among the services sub-sector,
hotels and restaurants posted the largest number of employed persons.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region VI,
reported that the number of establishments that retrenched their
workers increased from 109 in 2001 to 122 in 2002 and 188 in 2003.
The number of employees affected increased from 2,167 to 2,973 in
2001 and 2002 respectively, and decreased slightly to 2,633 in 2003.
In terms of the number of establishments that closed shop due to
economic reasons, the number rose from 165 to 239 (2001-2003).
In the rural areas, especially in agricultural communities,
employment opportunities are very limited due to the seasonality of
agricultural crop production. It is probable that there is comparable
underemployment among agricultural labor force for several months of
the year. However, it is difficult to record the extent of
underemployment in the rural areas.