1. In 2023, General Santos City’s employment rate was estimated at 95.2 percent. This was higher than the estimated employment rate of 93.5 percent in 2022 and in 2021 at 90.0 percent. (Table A)

In terms of magnitude, the number of employed individuals in the city in 2023 was recorded at 278,000. This was lower than the estimated number of employed persons of 288,000 in 2022. In 2021, the number of employed individuals was posted at 263,000. (Figure 1)

2. The unemployment rate in 2023 was recorded at 4.8 percent. This was lower than the unemployment rate in 2022 at 6.5 percent and in 2021 at 10.0 percent. (Table A)

In terms of levels, the number of unemployed persons in 2023 was recorded at 14,000. This was lower than the number of unemployed persons of 20,000 in 2022 and 29,000 in 2021. (Figure 2)

 

3. The underemployment rate in 2023 increased to 42.0 percent, from 30.7 percent in 2022 and 25.2 percent in 2021. (Table A)

In terms of magnitude, 117,000 of the 278,000 employed individuals in 2023 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 hours of work. In 2022 and 2021, the total underemployed persons in the city were 88,000 and 66,000, respectively. (Figure 3)

 

4. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in 2023 was estimated at 65.4 percent. This was lower than the estimated LFPR in 2022 at 69.0 percent. In 2021, the LFPR was estimated at 66.5 percent. (Table A)

The reported LFPR in 2023 translates to a total of 292,000 persons in General Santos City aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force, or those who were either employed or unemployed. The number of individuals aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force was 308,000 in 2022 and 292,000 in 2021. (Figure 4)