1.   In 2023, the province’s employment rate was estimated at 98.2 percent. This was higher than the estimated employment rate of 97.3 percent in 2022 and in 2021 at 95.9 percent. (Table A)

In terms of magnitude, the number of employed individuals in the province in 2023 was recorded at 287,000. This was lower than the estimated number of employed persons of 300,000 in 2022. In 2021, the number of employed individuals was posted at 256,000. (Figure 1)

 

2. The unemployment rate in 2023 was recorded at 1.8 percent. This was lower than the unemployment rate in 2022 at 2.7 percent and in 2021 at 4.1 percent. (Table A)

In terms of levels, the number of unemployed persons in 2023 was recorded at 5,000. This was lower than the number of unemployed persons of 8,000 in 2022 and 11,000 in 2021. (Figure 2)
 

3.    The underemployment rate in the province in 2023 increased to 47.1 percent, from 24.0 percent in 2022 and 28.6 percent in 2021. (Table A)

In terms of magnitude, 136,000 of the 287,000 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 province were 72,000 and 73,000, respectively. (Figure 3)
 

4.  The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in 2023 was estimated at 73.4 percent. This was lower than the estimated LFPR in 2022 at 78.4 percent. In 2021, the LFPR was estimated at 68.9 percent. (Table A)

The reported LFPR in 2023 translates to a total of 293,000 persons in Sarangani Province 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 266,000 in 2021. (Figure 4)