Ateneo Social Science Research Center
Bicol Social and Economic Monitor
♣Bicol Education and Literacy Monitor
♣Bicol Health and Nutrition Monitor
♣Bicol Population Growth Monitor
♣Bicol Income and Poverty Monitor
♣Bicol Labor and Employment Monitor
Unemployment rate improves
The unemployment rate in the Bicol region improved slightly as it decreased from 8.5 percent in January 2001 to 8.0 percent in January 2002. Among the six provinces in the region, Catanduanes reported the highest decrease in unemployment rate from 13.4 percent to 5.2 percent during the same period. On the other hand, unemployment rate was highest in Albay, which increased from 9.2 percent in January 2001 to 12.3 percent in January 2002. The provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte followed with 7.9 percent and 7.6 percent unemployment rate, respectively. Meanwhile, unemployment rate was lowest in Masbate at 4.1 percent in January 2002.
The total working age population (15-65 years old) in the Bicol region increased slightly from 2.8 million in January 2001 to 2.9 million in January 2002. The labor force participation rate (LFPR), or the proportion of the total working age population who are either occupying or actively seeking jobs, decreased slightly, however, from 68.2 percent to 67.7 percent during the same period. In January 2002, LFPR was highest in Masbate at 70 percent, followed by Catanduanes with 69 percent. On the other hand, LFPR was lowest in Sorsogon at 64.1 percent.
Agriculture Industry - the largest employer in the region
Of the 1.8 million employed persons in the region in January 2002, 41.9 percent were engaged in agriculture-related livelihood activities while 15.4 percent were in the wholesale and retail trade. On the other hand, those employed in the manufacturing, fishing and construction industries, on the aggregate, accounted for 19.1 percent of the total employed persons during the same period.
Noticeably, however, except for agriculture and construction sectors, all the above mentioned industry groups reported a 5-12 percent drop in the number of employed persons between January 2001 and January 2002.
Number of unpaid family workers increases
The total number of unpaid family workers in the region increased by 26.8 percent, from 280 thousand in January 2001 to 355 thousand in January 2002. On the other hand, the number of wage and salary earners and own account workers decreased by 3.3 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, during the same period.
Sources:National Statistics Office
National Statistical Coordination Board - RU 5