In July 2016, the population 15 years old and over in the country was estimated at 68.443 million and about 4.4 percent of this number or roughly 3.201 million were in Region XII. The labor force population consists of the employed and the unemployed 15 years old and over. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) in the region in July 2016 was estimated at 64. Percent, lower than the 64.2 percent posted the previous year. Employment rate or the proportion of employed persons to total labor force increased from 95.0 percent to 96.9 percent. This was higher compared to the national

figure of 94.6 percent in July 2016. Meanwhile, an improvement in unemployment situation was noted as the proportion of unemployed persons to the labor force also known as the unemployment

rate dropped by 1.6 percentage points. On the other hand, underemployment rate or the proportion of persons wanting more hours of work to the total employed persons increased as the underemployment rate increased by 2.9 percentage points.