BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has achieved a 96.7 percent employment rate, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday. The region now counts 1.3 million people within its labor force.
According to Philippines News Agency, regional statistical specialist at the Philippine Statistics Authority in CAR, 64.43 percent of the region’s population are active in the labor market. He noted during a press conference that the unemployment rate stands at 3.3 percent, which is lower than the national rate of 4.5 percent. The services sector has become the primary source of employment, surpassing agriculture, with the industry sector also playing a significant role in job creation.
The top employment contributors within the services sector are business process outsourcing, construction, and retail and wholesale, stated Emerito Narag, Assistant Regional Director of DOLE-CAR. He highlighted the growth in tourism and recovery of more establishments from the pandemic's impacts. Narag also mentioned that labor-related complaints in the region are minimal and typically resolved swiftly in early conferences between the involved parties.
DOLE-CAR is actively conducting unannounced inspections in workplaces to monitor the conditions for workers and compliance with employment standards. Narag emphasized the attention given to the expanding construction industry, which involves significant safety risks for workers. He noted that safety violations incur a fine of PHP40,000, and the lack of personal protective equipment results in a PHP20,000 penalty, escalating daily if not addressed promptly.
"We cannot compromise health and safety," Narag concluded.