ARMM posts highest employment rate in Mindanao

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By Antonio Colina IV

DAVAO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) had the highest employment rate in 2018 among the six regions in Mindanao, the preliminary results of the Annual Labor and Employment Estimates for 2018 showed.

The employment rate in ARMM, which is comprised of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, and Cities of Lamitan and Tawi Tawi, was recorded at 96.3 percent in 2018, slightly lower compared to 96.6 percent recorded in 2017.

Region 12, or more collectively known as SOCCSKARGEN, pertaining to South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, registered an employment rate of 96.1 percent; Caraga with 96 percent, Zamboanga Peninsula and Northern Mindanao with 95.9 percent, and 95.7 percent, and Davao Region with 95.7 percent.

The annual employment rate in the Philippines was estimated at 94.7 percent, with Cagayan Valley being the highest at 97percent and Ilocos Region, the lowest at 93.2percent, according to PSA.

The unemployment rate in the country last year was estimated at 5.3percent while the underemployment was 16.4 percent.

The PSA estimated the annual labor force participation rate was at 60.9percent out of 71.3 million population aged 15 years old and above. This was equivalent to 43.5 million economically active population comprising either employed or unemployed persons.

A total of 41.2 million were employed in 2018 in various industries such as agriculture, industry, and services sector, the PSA reported.

It said workers employed in the services sector comprised the largest proportion of the total employed workers at 56.6percent in 2018, which increased slightly from 56.3percent recorded in 2017.

Major of the workers in the services sector were engaged in the wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles accounted the largest.

The agriculture sector came in the second highest which accounted for 24.3percent of the total employed workers in 2018 while workers in the industry sector made up the smallest which only registered 19.1percent.