Republic of the Philippines

Philippine Statistics Authority

REGIONAL STATISTICAL SERVICES OFFICE I

SPECIAL RELEASE
Issue No. 18, Series of 2016 August 2016

The results of the October 2015 Labor Force Survey (LFS) revealed an
employment rate of 91.5 percent for Ilocos Region. This was 1.0 percentage point lower
than the 92.5 percent employment rate recorded in October 2014. The employment
rate of the region was the lowest among the seventeen regions and far beyond the
94.4 percent employment rate of the Philippines. In terms of the labor force
participation rate (LFPR) in Ilocos Region posted an increase of 0.2 percentage point
from 62.0 percent in October 2014 to 62.2 percent in October 2015. This was lower
than the country’s LFPR of 63.3 percent in October 2015.
Table 1. Employment Indicators, Philippines and Ilocos Region: October 2015 and October 2014 LFS
Philippines Region 1
INDICATORS
October October October October
2015 20141/ 2015 2014

Population 15 years and over (in 000) 2/ 66,622 64,257 3,584 3,566

Labor Force Participation Rate (%) 63.3 64.3 62.2 62.0

Employment Rate (%) 94.4 94.0 91.5 92.5

Unemployment Rate (%) 5.6 6.0 8.5 7.5

1/
The province of Leyte was not covered
2/
Population 15 years old and over is from 2000 Census-based population projections
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, October 2015 and October 2014 Labor Force Survey

Among the regions, Ilocos Region (Region I) recorded the lowest employment
rate of 91.5 percent in October 2015. On the other hand, SOCCSKSARGEN (Region
XII) had the highest employment rate of 97.6 percent. Meanwhile, the employment
rates of Ilocos Region and NCR were the lowest employment rates among the
seventeen regions for the period October 2015 and October 2014 respectively.

Employment Rate by Region, Philippines: October 2015

and October 2014
100.0
97.6 97.1
98.0 97.4 97.3 97.1
97.0 97.0 95.8 96.4 96.5
95.9 95.5 95.8
96.0
94.3 95.1 95.7 94.7 94.2 94.5
94.5 94.6 94.2 94.5 95.0
93.9 92.9 94.6 94.4
94.0 92.8 92.5 92.6
92.3
92.0 91.5
90.2
90.0 Oct-15

88.0
Oct-14
86.0

Source: PSA, October 2015 & October 2014 Labor Force Survey
 Figure 2. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Sex, Ilocos
Region: October 2015 and October 2014

70.0 62.5 62.2

60.0
50.0
37.5 37.8
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
-
Octoer 2015 Octoer 2014
Male Female

Source: PSA October 2014 & October 2015 Labor Force Survey

There was an increase of 0.3 percentage point in the percentage of employed

males in Ilocos Region from 62.2 percent in October 2014 to 62.5 percent in October
2015. On the other hand, a decrease of 0.3 percentage point was recorded among the
employed females, from 37.8 percent in October 2014 to 37.5 percent in October 2015.

By education, 50.6 percent of the employed persons in the Ilocos Region

attained high school, which was higher by 9.4 percentage points than the 41.2 percent
recorded for the whole country.

About 22.9 percent of the employed persons in Ilocos Region reached college
level, which was lower by 2.5 percentage points from the Philippines figure of 25.4
percent in October 2015.

On the other hand, about 4.8 percent of the employed persons in Ilocos Region
attained post-secondary level, which was 0.4 percentage point higher than the 4.4
percent recorded for the whole country.
 Figure 3. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Highest Grade
Completed, Philippines and Ilocos Region: October 2015
60.0
50.6
50.0
41.2
40.0
27.5 25.4 22.9
30.0 21.4
20.0
10.0 4.4 4.8
1.5 0.4
-
No Grade Elementary Level HS Level Post Secondary College Level
Completed Level

Philippines Ilocos Region

About 21.4 percent of the employed persons in Ilocos Region attained

elementary level, lower by 6.1 percentage points with that of the Philippines, which was
posted at 27.5 percent.

The percentage of employed persons in Ilocos Region with no grade completed

was only 0.4 percent, lower by 1.1 percentage points as compared to the 1.5 percent
recorded for the Philippines.

Among the various occupation groups, the laborers and unskilled workers
comprised the biggest group making up more than one-third of the total employed
persons in October 2015 and October 2014, at 35.3 percent and 38.7 percent,
respectively.

Farmers and fishermen made up the second largest occupation group in Ilocos
Region accounting for 15.7 percent in October 2015 and 15.4 in October 2014.
 Figure 4. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Major Occupation
Group, Ilocos Region: October 2015 and October 2014
45.0 38.7
40.0 35.3
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0 13.5 15.0 15.7
13.4 12.9 15.4
15.0
10.0 4.6 6.0
4.3 4.7 5.8 3.7
5.0 1.6 1.6 3.8 3.6 0.1 0.1
-

Oct-15 Oct-14
Source: PSA, October 2015 & October 2014 Labor Force Survey

Service workers, shop and market sales workers was the third biggest group with
15.0 percent in October 2015. Meanwhile, the officials of the government and special
interest organizations, corporate executives, managers, managing proprietors and
supervisors was the third group in October 2014 with 13.5 percent.

In terms of the percent distribution of employed persons by major industry,

workers in the services sector accounted the largest group of workers, making up 54.1
percent and 51.8 percent of the total employed in Ilocos Region in October 2015 and
October 2014, respectively.

Workers in the agriculture sector, on the other hand, comprised the second
largest group in Ilocos Region, accounting for 32.5 percent and 35.3 percent in October
2015 and October 2014, respectively.
 Figure 5. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Major Industry
Group, Ilocos Region: October 2015 and October 2014
60.0
54.1
51.8
50.0

40.0 35.3
32.5
30.0

20.0
13.4 12.9
10.0

-
Agriculture Industry Services

Oct-15 Oct-14
Source: PSA, October 2015 & October 2014 Labor Force Survey

Meanwhile, workers in the industry sector made up 13.4 percent of the total
number of employed persons in Ilocos Region in October 2015, and 12.9 percent in
October 2014.

Almost half (44.0%) of the employed persons in Ilocos Region worked for private
establishments in October 2015. This was the same figure obtained in October 2014.
Self-employed individuals ranked second in October 2015 with 28.2 percent of the total
employed persons in Ilocos Region. This was lower by 1.0 percentage point as
compared to October 2014 with 29.2 percent. The third biggest class of workers in
October 2015 were those unpaid family worker with 9.3 in October 2015 but lower by
1.1 percent as compared in October 2014 with 10.4 percent. This was followed closely
by employed in government with a share of 9.0 percent and 8.4 percent in October 2015
and October 2014 respectively. On the other hand, the proportion of individuals who
worked for private households in October 2015 was 5.0 percent as compared to 4.0
percent in October 2014. A promising 4.2 and 3.5 percent for October 2015 and
October 2014 respectively was recorded for persons who were employer of their own
businesses.
 Figure 6. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Class of Worker, Ilocos
Region: October 2015 and October 2014
50.0
44.0 44.0
45.0
40.0
35.0
28.2 29.2
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0 9.3 10.8
9.0 8.4
10.0 5.0 4.0 4.2 3.5
5.0 0.2 0.1
0.0
Self Employer Unpaid
Worked for Worked for Worked for Worked with Employed family worker
private private government pay in own-
household establishment or operated farm
government- or business
controlled
corporation Oct-15 Oct-14

Source: PSA, October 2015 and October 2014 Labor Force

The average number of hours worked per week of employed persons in Ilocos
Region was 40.1 hours. Male workers tend to have shorter average number of working
hours per week (39.7 hours) than their female counterparts (40.7 hours). It can also be
noted that larger proportion of employed males worked 20 hours or more per week. On
the other hand, majority of the employed individuals who did not work during the
reference period were males (58.8 percent) as compared to females (41.2 percent).
 Figure 7. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Number of Hours
Worked by Sex, Ilocos Region: October 2015
80.0

66.4 68.2
70.0
61.6
58.8 57.2
60.0

50.0
41.2 42.8
38.4
40.0
33.6 31.8
30.0

20.0

10.0

-
Did not work Under 20 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 and Over

Male Female
Source: PSA, October 2015 Labor Force Survey

In October 2015, 66.9 percent of the unemployed persons in Ilocos Region were
males and 33.1 percent were females. Compared to the figure in October 2014, the
proportion of unemployed females decreased by 2.5 percentage points.

Figure 8. Percent Distribution of Unemployed Persons by Sex, Ilocos

Region: October 2015 and October 2014
100%
90%
33.1 30.6
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
66.9 69.4
30%
20%
10%
0%
Oct 2015 Oct 2014

Male Female
Source:PSA, October 2015 and October 2014 Labor Force
 Figure 9. Mean Number of Weeks Looking for Work by Region:
October 2015
12.9
14.0 10.9
12.0 8.6 9.0
10.0 6.5 7.6 6.6
8.0 6.3
4.4 4.9 4.3 4.5
6.0 3.2 3.2 3.6 3.1 2.9
4.0
2.0
0.0

Mean Number of Weeks Looking for Work

Source:PSA, October 2015 Labor Force Survey

In terms of job hunting, unemployed persons in Ilocos Region looked for work for
more than a month (6.5 weeks) on the average before landed a job or stopped looking
for a job. The shortest duration for job hunting was recorded by Caraga Region with an
average of 2.9 weeks, while the longest duration was reported in Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with 12.9 weeks on the average.
Statistical Tables

Table 2. Labor Force Participation, Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment Rates by

Region: October 2015.
Total Population
15 years Under-
old and Over Labor Force Employment Unemployment employment
Region (in Thousands) Participation Rate Rate Rate Rate
Philippines 66,622 63.3 94.4 5.6 66,622
NCR 8,277 62.4 92.8 7.2 8,277
CAR 1,191 66.4 95.9 4.1 1,191
I-Ilocos Region 3,584 62.2 91.5 8.5 3,584
II-Cagayan Valley 2,340 66.9 97.0 3.0 2,340
III-Central Luzon 7,309 60.9 93.9 6.1 7,309
IV-A-CALABARZON 8,615 64.6 92.3 7.7 8,615
IV-B-MIMAROPA 2,061 65.5 97.4 2.6 2,061
V-Bicol Region 3,999 63.4 94.5 5.5 3,999
VI-Western Visayas 5,376 62.5 95.8 4.2 5,376
VII-Central Visayas 5,094 67.0 94.6 5.4 5,094
VIII-Eastern Visayas 3,116 59.6 94.7 5.3 3,116
IX-Zamboanga
Peninsula 2,297 61.9 96.4 3.6 2,297
X-Norther
Mindanao 3,140 67.5 94.2 5.8 3,140
XI-Davao Region 3,193 64.4 94.5 5.5 3,193
XII-SOCCSKSARGEN 2,810 63.8 97.6 2.4 2,810
Caraga 1,794 65.6 95.0 5.0 1,794
ARMM 2,426 53.3 96.5 3.5 2,426
Table 3. Percent Distribution of Population 15 Years Old and Over by Employment Status and Sex,
Philippines and Ilocos Region: July 2015
Total Population
15 years old
Total Labor Unemploye Not in the
Region and Sex and Over
Force Employed d Force Labor
Philippines 66,622 42146 39, 775 2,371 24,477
Number (in thousands)
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male 50.0 60.8 60.6 63.4 31.4
Female 50.0 39.2 39.4 36.6 68.6
Ilocos Region
3,584 2,230 2,040 190 1,354
Number (in thousands)

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Male 50.5 62.5 62.1 66.9 30.8
Female 49.5 37.5 37.9 33.1 69.2

Table 4. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Highest Grade Completed and Sex, Philippines and
Region I: July 2015
Highest Grade Completed
Elementary High School Post-Secondary College
No Grade Under Under Under Under
Region and Sex Total Completed Grad Grad Grad Grad Grad Grad Grad Grad
Philippines 39,775 581 5,375 5,567 4,843 11,556 207 1,546 3,642 6,458
(No. in Thousands)
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male 60.6 64.7 71.9 65.3 67.0 61.6 57.0 55.7 58.1 42.9
Female 39.4 35.3 28.1 34.7 33.0 38.4 43.0 44.3 41.9 57.1
Ilocos Region 2,040 8 133 303 232 799 6 92 166 301
(No. in Thousands)
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male 62.1 87.0 71.2 67.7 70.5 64.9 62.7 51.5 63.0 40.5
Female 37.9 13.0 28.8 32.3 29.5 35.1 37.3 48.5 37.0 59.5
Table 5. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Sex and Major Occupation Group, Philippines and
Ilocos Region: July 2015
Region and Major Occupation Group Total Male Female
Philippines
Numbers (in thousands) 39,775 24,106 15,669
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Officials of government and special-interest
organizations, corporate executives, managers,
managing proprietors, and supervisors 15.7 13.8 18.6
Professionals 5.2 2.9 8.8
Technicians and associate professionals 2.6 2.1 3.5
Clerks 6.5 4.0 10.4
Service workers and shop and market sales worker 12.9 10.5 16.6
Farmers, forestry workers, and fishermen 13.5 18.5 5.8
Trades and related workers 6.6 9.1 2.7
Plant and machine operators and assemblers 5.3 7.6 1.8
Laborers and unskilled workers 31.5 31.3 31.8
Special occupations 0.4 0.4 0.2
Ilocos Region
Numbers (in thousands) 2,040 1,266 774
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Officials of government and special-interest
organizations, corporate executives, managers,
managing proprietors, and supervisors 13.4 12.1 15.7
Professionals 4.3 2.0 8.1
Technicians and associate professionals 1.6 1.2 2.4
Clerks 4.7 2.9 7.7
Service workers and shop and market sales worker 15.0 11.7 20.5
Farmers, forestry workers, and fishermen 15.7 22.1 5.4
Trades and related workers 6.0 8.2 2.4
Plant and machine operators and assemblers 3.6 5.8 0.1
Laborers and unskilled workers 35.4 34.0 37.7
Special occupations 0.1 0.1 0.1
 Table 6. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Sex and Major Industry Group, Philippines and Ilocos Region:
July 2015

Region and Major Occupation Group Total Male Female

Philippines
Numbers (in Thousands) 39,775 24,106 15,669
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Agriculture and Forestry 26.2 31.3 18.3
Fishing and Aquaculture 3.4 5.2 0.7
Mining and Quarying 0.5 0.8 0.1
Manufacturing 8.1 7.4 9.1
Electricity Gas Steam and
Airconditioning Supply 0.2 0.3 0.1
Water Supply; Sewerage Waste
Management and Remediation
Activities 0.2 0.2 0.1
Construction 7.0 11.2 0.5
Whosale and Retail Trade; Repair of
Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles 19.1 12.6 29.0
Transportation and Storage 7.0 11.2 0.6
Accommodation and Food Service
Activities 4.5 3.3 6.4
Information and Communication 0.9 1.0 0.9
Financial and Insurance Activities 1.3 0.9 1.9
Real Estate Activities 0.5 0.4 0.6
Professional Scientific and Technical
Activities 0.5 0.4 0.6
Administrative and Support Service
Activities 3.0 3.0 2.8
Public Administration and Defense;
Compulsory Social Security 5.5 5.0 6.3
Education 3.4 1.5 6.2
Human Health and Social Work
Activities 1.3 0.7 2.2
Arts Entertainment and Recreation 0.8 0.9 0.8
Activities of Households as Employers;
Undifferentiated Goods- and Services-
Producing Activities of Households for
Own Use 6.8 2.8 12.9
Activities of Extraterritorial
Organizations and Bodies 0.0 0.0 0.0
 Table 6, cont.

Region and Major Occupation Group Total Male Female

I - Ilocos Region
Number (in Thousands) 2,040 1,266 774
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Agriculture and Forestry 29.9 37.0 18.4
Fishing and Aquaculture 2.5 3.8 0.3
Mining and Quarying 0.5 0.8 0.0
Manufacturing 5.2 5.2 5.3
Electricity Gas Steam and
Airconditioning Supply 0.3 0.4 0.1
Water Supply; Sewerage Waste
Management and Remediation
Activities 0.1 0.1 0.0
Construction 7.4 11.7 0.3
Whosale and Retail Trade; Repair of
Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles 20.6 13.8 31.9
Transportation and Storage 6.3 10.0 0.4
Accommodation and Food Service
Activities 3.7 2.0 6.3
Information and Communication 0.7 0.7 0.9
Financial and Insurance Activities 1.2 0.8 1.9
Real Estate Activities 0.1 0.2 0.1
Professional Scientific and Technical
Activities 0.3 0.2 0.6
Administrative and Support Service
Activities 1.7 2.1 1.1
Public Administration and Defense;
Compulsory Social Security 5.9 5.2 7.0
Education 3.5 1.3 7.2
Human Health and Social Work
Activities 0.8 0.5 1.4
Arts Entertainment and Recreation 1.2 1.4 0.7
Activities of Households as Employers;
Undifferentiated Goods- and Services-
Producing Activities of Households for
Own Use 7.9 3.0 15.9
Activities of Extraterritorial
Organizations and Bodies 0.0 0.0 0.0
Table 7. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Sex and Class of Worker, Philippines and Ilocos
Region: July 2015
Region and Major Occupation Group Total Male Female
Philippines
Numbers (in thousands) 39,775 24,106 15,669
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Wage and salary workers 59.3 61 57.0
Worked for private household 5.0 1 10.6
Worked for private establishment 45.7 53 34.7
Worked for government and government-
controlled corporation 8.3 6 11.5
Worked with pay on own family-operated farm or
business 0.3 0 0.2
Self-employed without any paid employee 27.9 28 27.1
Employer in own family-operated farm or business 3.2 4 1.8
Work without pay on own family-operated farm or
business 9.6 7 14.1
Ilocos Region
Numbers (in thousands) 59.3 61 57.0
Total
Wage and salary workers 100.0 100.0 100.0
Worked for private household 58.3 58.4 58.2
Worked for private establishment 5.0 1.3 11.2
Worked for government and government-
controlled corporation 44.0 50.6 33.1
Worked with pay on own family-operated farm or
business 9.0 6.2 13.6
Self-employed without any paid employee 0.2 0.2 0.3
Employer in own family-operated farm or business 28.2 29.0 26.9
Work without pay on own family-operated farm or
business 4.2 5.7 1.7

Table 8. Percent Distribution of Employed Persons by Total Hours Worked by Sex, Philippines and
Region I: July 2015
Did No Total Hours Worked Mean Hours
Region and Sex Total Work Under 20 20 – 29 30 – 39 40 and over Worked
Philippines
(No. in Thousands) 39,775 263 5,152 4,218 4,252 25,889 41.6
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male
60.6 63.4 62.6 62.6 69.5 60.6 41.3
Female
39.4 36.6 48.5 37.4 30.5 39.4 42.0
Ilocos Region
(No. in Thousands) 2,040 12 313 247 176 1,292 40.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male 62.1 58.9 57.2 66.4 68.2 61.6 39.7
Female 37.9 41.2 42.8 33.6 31.8 38.4 40.7
Table 9. Percent Distribution of Unemployed Persons Looking for Work by Number of Weeks Looking for
Work, Philippines and Region I: July 2015
Number of Weeks Looking for Work Mean Number of Weeks
Region and Sex Total Less than 4 4–9 10 – 19 20 and over Looking for Work
Philippines
(No. in Thousands) 1,092 623 353 70 47 5.2
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Male 59.8 59.8 58.7 48.2 65.3 5.4
Female 40.2 40.2 41.3 51.8 34.7 4.9
Ilocos Region
(Percent Share to
National) 6.8 5.7 7.7 12.85 6.2 6.5
 TECHNICAL NOTES

 Starting July 2003, the Labor Force Survey (LFS) adopted the 2003 Master
Sample Design, with a sample size of approximately 50,000 households.
 Starting in the January 2012 LFS, the codes for industry adopted the 2009
Philippine Standard Industrial Classification (PSIC). Prior to this, codes for
industry used the 1994 PSIC.
 Starting in the January 2012 LFS, more detailed categories for highest grade
completed used in the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH) were also
adopted.
 Starting in the January 2012 LFS, a question on whether a household member is
a graduate of a technical vocational course was asked for each person 15 years
or older.
 Starting April 2005, the new unemployment definition was adopted per NSCB
Resolution Number 15 dated October 20, 2004. As indicated in the said
resolution, the unemployed include all persons who are 15 years and over as of
their last birthday and are reported as: (1) without work and currently available
for work and seeking work; or (2) without work and currently available for work
but not seeking work for the following reasons:

1. Tired/believed no work available

2. Awaiting results of previous job application
3. Temporary illness/disability
4. Bad weather
5. Waiting for rehire/job recall

 Starting with the January 2007 LFS round, the population projections based on
the 2000 Census of Population and Housing was adopted to generate the labor
force statistics. This is in compliance with NSCB Resolution No. 1 series of 2005
entitled “Adoption of the Methodology Used in Generating the 2000 Census of
Population and Housing-Based National Population Projections”.

For inquiries, visit or call:

Philippine Statistics Authority

Regional Statistical Services Office I
Statistical Operations and Coordination Division
Sitio 5, Brgy. Biday
San Fernando City, La Union
Telephone No. (072) 607-0247
Email Address: psa_rsso1_socd@yahoo.com.ph
www.psa.gov.ph