Out of the estimated 59.1 million population 15 years old and over in April 2009, 37.8 million were in the labor force. This placed the labor force participation rate (LFPR) at 64.0 percent, higher than last year's rate of 63.2 percent. The highest LFPR was reported in MIMAROPA where 70.9 percent of the region's working age population was in the labor force. The lowest LFPR reported was in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at 56.4 percent.
The labor force population of the country in January 1998 reached 30.2 million, higher by 608 thousand or 2.1 percent over the January 1997 estimate. However, the corresponding labor force participation rate dropped from 65.4 percent in January 1997 to 65.0 percent this year.
Labor force population in April 2001 of 33.6 million was 2.0 million more than that in April 2000. Labor force participation rate, likewise, increased to 69.0% from 66.5%.
The July 2009 LFS registered a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 64.6 percent. The size of the labor force in July 2009 was approximately 38.4 million out of the estimated 59.5 million population 15 years old and over. The LFPR was highest in Region X (Northern Mindanao) at 71.2 percent and lowest in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at 59.0 percent.
