Aklan’s employment rate decline to 88.8 pct in 2020

KALIBO, Aklan – The employment rate of Aklan plunged to 88.8 percent in 2020 from 94.1 percent in 2019, according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This translates to about 213,450 employed persons, lower by 26,070 compared to 2019 data of 239,520.

Aklan’s employment rate is the lowest among six provinces in Western Visayas.

In 2018, employed persons in the province totaled 242, 340 or about 94.6 percent employment rate.

The labor force participation rate among persons 15 years old and over in 2020 was estimated at 57.8 percent, which is equivalent to 240,480 individuals, lower compared to 2019’s 61.7 percent or 254,410 persons.

Unemployment rate in the province in 2020 rose to 11.2 percent from 5.9 percent in 2019. This is equal to about 27,030 unemployed persons from 14,900 jobless individuals in 2019.

In 2018, the province’ unemployment rate was pegged at 5.4 percent corresponding to about 13, 730 persons.

The province’ underemployment clocked in at 10.4 percent, up by 0.1 percent compared to 10.3 percent in 2019.

This is equivalent to about 22,250 persons from 24,780 in 2019, or a decrease of 2,530 persons.

In 2018, underemployment rate of Aklan hits 12.9 percent or 31, 260 persons.

Underemployment refers to employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job, or to have additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours during the reference week.

Unemployment, on the contrary, refers to all persons 15 years and over without work, looking for work, or currently available for work but not looking for it due to reasons such as tired, believed no work available, awaiting results of previous job application, temporary illness/disability, bad weather, waiting for rehire/job recall, and community quarantine.

These employment data were derived from the results of the Labor Force Survey conducted quarterly by PSA.