63.1 percent of the population 15 years old and over are in the labor force

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Cagayan Valley was recorded at 63.1 percent in April 2025, which was estimated at about 1.6 million persons aged 15 years old and over who were in the labor force. This means that 631 in every 1,000 of this age group were either employed or unemployed.  The level of LFPR in the region during the reference period reflected a decrease of 0.8 percentage points from 63.9 percent in January 2025 and 2.8 percentage points lower than the same period of last year (see Figure 1).

Across regions in the country, Cagayan Valley placed 11th in terms of LFPR. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had the highest LFPR with 74.2 percent while Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) recorded the lowest with 59.5 percent (refer to Figure 2).

Employment Rate registered at 97.3 percent

Figure 1 shows that the employment rate of the region increased by 0.8 percentage points from 96.5 percent in January 2025.  This employment rate translates to an estimated 1.6 million Cagayanos who are currently employed.

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recorded the highest employment rate with 97.8 percent while Region VII (Central Visayas) recorded the lowest with 94.5 percent. Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley recorded an employment rate of 97.3 percent, placing it 4th among all regions (see Figure 3).
 

Unemployment rate of Cagayan Valley was estimated at 2.7 percent

Of the total estimated 1.6 million economically active population 15 years old and over, 43 thousand were unemployed.  Moreover, the unemployment rate in the region recorded at 2.7 percent, lower by 0.9 percentage points from the unemployment rate of 3.6 percent in the same quarter last year (refer to Figure 1).

Figure 4 shows that Region VII (Central Visayas) recorded the highest unemployment rate at 5.5 percent while Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) had the lowest rate at 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley ranked 4th with the lowest unemployment rate across all regions (see also Figure 4).

Underemployment rate estimated at 19.8 percent

Underemployed persons were estimated at 310 thousand in April 2025. The underemployment rate of the Cagayan Valley Region decreased by 2.8 percentage points from 22.6 percent in April 2024, however, it increased by 1.8 percentage points over the last quarter.

Among all regions in the country, Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) recorded the highest underemployment rate at 36.0 percent. On the other hand, Region XI (Davao Region) recorded the lowest at 3.9 percent. 

Table 1 below shows that the employment situation in Cagayan Valley improved in April 2025. The region registered a Labor Force Participation Rate of 64.4 percent, which was slightly above the national rate of 63.7. Cagayan Valley posted also a high employment rate of 97.3 percent, surpassing the national rate of 95.5 percent. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate stood at 2.7 percent, significantly lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent. However, the underemployment rate of 19.8 percent was higher compared to the national rate of 14.6 percent.
 

Engr. GIRME M. BAYUCAN
(Chief Statistical Specialist)
Officer-in-Charge, PSA-RSSO II

EMDP/MJCC/MJDSA/RMS 

Explanatory Notes

Employment Status Concepts
1.    Population 15 Years Old and Over: This refers to the number of population 15 years old and over excluding overseas workers. Overseas workers are excluded in the estimation of the size of working population (population aged 15 years and over) since the data on their economic characteristics are not collected because they are not considered part of the labor force in the country.

2.    In the Labor Force or Economically Active Population: This refers to persons 15 years old and over who are either employed or unemployed in accordance with the definitions described below.

3.    Employed: Employed are defined as persons in the labor force who were reported either as 
•    With a job and at work; or 
•    With a job or business although not at work.

4.    Underemployed: Underemployed persons include all employed persons who express the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. Visibly underemployed people are those who work for less than 40 hours during the reference period and want additional hours of work.

5.    Unemployed: Unemployed persons include all persons in the labor force who are reported as:
a) Without work
b) Currently available for work
c) Seeking work
d) Not seeking work due to some reasons, i.e. discouraged workers, awaiting results of previous job application, temporary illness or disability, bad weather, and/or waiting for rehire or job recall.

6.    Persons Not in the Labor Force: Persons 15 years old and over who are neither employed nor unemployed according to the definitions mentioned.