The Labor Force Survey (LFS) gathers such data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population with nationwide coverage and conducted on a quarterly and monthly mode by interviewing households. It aims to provide a quantitative framework for the preparation of plans, and formulation of policies affecting the labor market.

Specifically, the survey is designed to provide statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment for the country, as a whole and for each of the administrative regions.

This Special Release discusses the final results of the labor force participation, employment, unemployment, and underemployment in the provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region in 2023.

65.6% of population 15 years old and over are in the labor force

In 2023, about 840 thousand of the estimated 1.28 million population aged 15 years old and over in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were part of the labor force. This translated to a Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 65.6%, meaning that 656 out of every 1,000 individuals aged 15 and over were either employed or actively seeking employment. This rate was 0.7 percentage point higher than the national LFPR of 64.9%.

Across provinces, Mountain Province recorded the highest LFPR of 77.0%, followed by Kalinga (70.5%), Ifugao (70.2%), Apayao (66.7%), and Benguet (66.4%). These provinces all recorded LFPR above both the national and regional averages.

On the other hand, the province of Abra and the City of Baguio posted lower LFPRs, at 62.8% and 55.7%, respectively (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) by Province/HUC, CAR: 2023
(In Percent) 

Mountain Province registers the highest employment rate

Of the recorded 840 thousand individuals aged 15 years old and over in the region who were part of the labor force, 817 thousand or 97.2% were employed. This resulted in an employment rate that was 1.6 percentage points higher than the national rate of 95.6%.

Among regions, Cagayan Valley posted the highest employment rate at 97.6%, followed by CAR with 97.2% and CARAGA with 97.0%. The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest employment rate at 94.1%.

Across all provinces/HUCs in the country, Mountain Province registered the highest employment rate with 99.1% followed by Sulu and Kalinga with 98.9% and 98.8%, respectively. The City of Isabela registered the lowest employment rate with 90.1%.

Within CAR, the provinces of Apayao (97.0%), Abra (96.8%), Ifugao (96.6%), and the City of Baguio (95.4%) posted employment rates below the regional average (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Employment Rate by Province/HUC, CAR: 2023
(In Percent)

Meanwhile, the region recorded an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which was 1.6 percentage points lower than the national employment rate of 4.4%. The City of Baguio recorded the highest unemployment rate in the region at 4.6%, followed by Ifugao (3.4%), Abra (3.2%), Apayao (3.0%), and Benguet (2.5%). Mountain Province registered the lowest unemployment rate at 0.9% (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Unemployment Rate by Province/HUC, CAR: 2023
(in Percent)

Of the estimated 817 thousand employed individuals aged 15 years old and over in the region, 117 thousand or 14.4% were classified as underemployed. Underemployed persons are those who express a desire for additional hours of work in their current job, an additional job, or a new job with longer working hours.

Among provinces and HUC, Kalinga registered the highest underemployment rate at 31.0%, followed by Apayao (23.9%) and Benguet (13.2%).

Meanwhile, four provinces and one HUC posted underemployment rates below the regional average: Benguet (13.2%), Ifugao (12.5%), the City of Baguio (11.5%), Mountain Province (7.8%), and Abra (6.3%).

Figure 4. Underemployment Rate by Province/HUC, CAR: 2023
(In Percent)

(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director

Designation    Initials    Date
CSS                 AFRBJ    12 Aug 2025
SSS                  WBM    31 July 2025
SA                    LMB     22 July 2025

Technical Notes

The Annual Labor Force Survey (LFS) refers to the average of data collected across all survey rounds throughout the year. It produces labor and employment statistics for the full year, providing a more comprehensive analysis of the Philippine labor market, including the regional, provincial, and highly urbanized city (HUC) levels.

a.    Reference Period

The reference period for this survey is the “past week” referring to the past seven (7) days preceding the date of visit of the enumerator or the interviewer.

b.    Employment Status Concepts

1.    Population 15 Years Old and Over 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 refers to persons 15 years old and over who are either employed or unemployed in accordance with the definitions described below.

3.    Employed persons include all those who, during the reference period, are 15 years old and over as of their last birthday, and are reported either:

a.    At work, i.e., those who do any work even for one hour during the reference period for pay or profit, or work without pay on the farm or business enterprise operated by a member of the same household related by blood, marriage, or adoption; or

b.    With a job but not at work, i.e., those who have a job or business but are not at work because of temporary illness or injury, vacation, or other reasons. Likewise, persons who expect to report for work or to start operation of a farm or business enterprise within two weeks from the date of the enumerator’s visit are considered employed.

4.    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 persons are those who work for less than 40 hours during the reference period and want additional hours of work.

5.    Unemployed 

Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition was adopted per NSCB Resolution Number 15 dated 20 October 2004. As indicated in the said resolution: 
Unemployed persons include all those who, during the reference period, are 15 years old and over ad of their last birthday, and are reported as persons: 
a.    Without work, i.e., had no job or business during the reference period;

b.    Currently available for work, i.e., were available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment during the reference period, and/or would be available and willing to take up work in paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the interview date; and

c.    Seeking work, i.e., had taken specific steps to look for a job or establish a business during the reference period, or

d.    Not seeking work due to the following reasons: (1) fatigued or believed no work available, i.e., discouraged workers; (2) waiting for the results of previous job application; (3) temporary illness or disability; (4) bad weather; and/or (5) waiting for rehire or job recall.

6.    Persons Not in the Labor Force refers to persons 15 years old and over who were neither employed nor unemployed according to the definitions mentioned. Those not in the labor force are persons who are not looking for work because of reasons such as housekeeping, schooling, and permanent disability. Examples are housewives, students, persons with disability, or retired persons.