There is an estimated 40.6 million out of the 62.8 million population of 15 years old and above in the labor force, which translate to a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 64.7 percent, slightly higher compared to last year's figure of 64.2 percent.
The National Statistics Office (NSO) has noted that majority of the regions reported an LFPR higher than the national rate.
The highest participation rate was reported in Northern Mindanao where 71.1 percent of the region's working age population was in the labor force followed by MIMAROPA with 70.1 percent and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with 69 percent.
Meanwhile, the lowest LFPR reported was in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at 55.9 percent.
Out of the 40.6 million persons in the labor force reported in April 2012, 93.1 percent were employed.
This means that the number of employed persons is approximately 37.8 million. In the same month last year, the employment rate was lower at 92.8 percent.
Among regions, Cagayan Valley had the highest employment rate at 97.2 percent, followed closely by the ARMM (97.1 percent).
The National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest employment rate at 89.6 percent.
The NSO has also observed that out of the 37.8 million employed persons in April 2012, more than 60 percent were males.
The largest number of employed persons belonged to the age group 25 to 34 years with 26.3 percent of the total empployed.
The 35 to 44 age group comprised the second largest group (22.7 percent), while the 15 to 24 age group made up the third largest group.

Source: Manila Bulletin - June 7, 2013