Economy, jobs and prices in SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), Philippines: official figures
The economy of SOCCSKSARGEN produced ₱700.7 billion of goods and services in 2025 (gross regional domestic product, GRDP, at current prices), 2.5% of the Philippine total of ₱28.01 trillion; by size it ranks 8th smallest of 17 regions.
How fast is the economy of SOCCSKSARGEN growing?
GRDP at current prices in SOCCSKSARGEN grew 3.7% from 2024 to 2025 (₱676.0 billion to ₱700.7 billion), against 5.9% for the Philippines; it ranks 3rd slowest of 17 regions for growth. This is growth in pesos and is not adjusted for price rises.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow much has the economy of SOCCSKSARGEN grown since 2018?
Between 2018 and 2025 GRDP at current prices in SOCCSKSARGEN rose from ₱454.3 billion to ₱700.7 billion, an increase of 54.2%, against 53.4% nationally. The figures are not adjusted for price rises.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat are the main industries in SOCCSKSARGEN?
Services (trade, transport, finance, government, education, health and similar) made up 53.6% of GRDP in SOCCSKSARGEN in 2025 (₱375.8 billion), against 64.4% for the Philippines; it ranks 7th lowest of 17 regions by share.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow much of the economy of SOCCSKSARGEN is industry?
Industry (manufacturing, mining, construction and utilities) made up 23.2% of GRDP in SOCCSKSARGEN in 2025 (₱162.9 billion), against 27.0% for the Philippines; it ranks 4th lowest of 17 regions by share.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow important is farming in the economy of SOCCSKSARGEN?
Agriculture, forestry and fishing made up 23.1% of GRDP in SOCCSKSARGEN in 2025 (₱162.0 billion), against 8.6% for the Philippines; it ranks 2nd highest of 17 regions by share.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the GDP per person in SOCCSKSARGEN?
Dividing 2025 GRDP by the 2024 census population gives about ₱157,009 of output per resident of SOCCSKSARGEN, against ₱248,470 for the Philippines; it ranks 5th lowest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in SOCCSKSARGEN?
The unemployment rate in SOCCSKSARGEN was 3.2% in 2023 (Labor Force Survey), against 4.4% for the Philippines; it ranks joint 5th lowest of 17 regions for unemployment.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow has unemployment changed in SOCCSKSARGEN?
Unemployment in SOCCSKSARGEN was 4.4% in 2019, jumped to 9.1% in 2020 during the first year of the pandemic and was 3.2% in 2023; nationally the rate went 5.1%, 10.3% and 4.4%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in SOCCSKSARGEN?
69.3% of people aged 15 and over in SOCCSKSARGEN were in the labour force (working or looking for work) in 2023, against 64.9% nationally; it ranks 3rd highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the underemployment rate in SOCCSKSARGEN?
The underemployment rate in SOCCSKSARGEN was 25.3% in 2023, meaning that share of employed people wanted more hours of work or an additional job; the national rate was 12.3% and SOCCSKSARGEN ranks the highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many working-age people are there in SOCCSKSARGEN?
SOCCSKSARGEN had 3,048,200 people aged 15 and over in 2023, the working-age population measured by the Labor Force Survey; in 2014 the figure was 2,751,700.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many households in SOCCSKSARGEN have electricity?
89.1% of households in SOCCSKSARGEN had electricity in the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey, against 94.8% nationally; it ranks 2nd lowest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many households in SOCCSKSARGEN own a computer or refrigerator?
In 2022, 88.2% of households in SOCCSKSARGEN owned a mobile phone, 61.2% a television, 40.9% a refrigerator and 19.0% a computer; nationally the shares were 92.0%, 73.9%, 52.3% and 30.0%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many women in SOCCSKSARGEN use the internet?
68.8% of women aged 15 to 49 in SOCCSKSARGEN had used the internet in the past 12 months (2022 survey; national: 82.2%), and 23.4% had a bank account (national: 32.0%).
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many women in SOCCSKSARGEN are in paid work?
45.1% of women aged 15 to 49 in SOCCSKSARGEN were currently employed in 2022 (national: 44.8%); of employed women, 17.0% worked in professional, technical or managerial jobs and 18.5% in agriculture.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) compares with other regions
GRDP at current prices (2025)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 10 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | GRDP at current prices |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | ₱925.0 billion |
| 8 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | ₱845.8 billion |
| 9 | Bicol Region (Region V) | ₱789.4 billion |
| 10 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | ₱700.7 billion |
| 11 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | ₱672.3 billion |
| 12 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | ₱645.6 billion |
| 13 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | ₱579.6 billion |
GRDP growth, 2024 to 2025 (at current prices, not adjusted for inflation) (2024-2025)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 15 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | GRDP growth, 2024 to 2025 (at current prices, not adjusted for inflation) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Central Luzon (Region III) | 5.2% |
| 12 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 4.0% |
| 13 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 3.9% |
| 14 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 3.8% |
| 15 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 3.7% |
| 16 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | 2.6% |
| 17 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 2.5% |
GRDP per resident (2025 GRDP over 2024 census population) (2025)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 13 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | GRDP per resident (2025 GRDP over 2024 census population) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | ₱170,468 |
| 11 | Caraga (Region XIII) | ₱166,740 |
| 12 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | ₱165,791 |
| 13 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | ₱157,009 |
| 14 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | ₱153,436 |
| 15 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | ₱139,562 |
| 16 | Bicol Region (Region V) | ₱130,166 |
Services share of GRDP (2025)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 11 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | Services share of GRDP |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 56.1% |
| 9 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 55.4% |
| 10 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | 54.5% |
| 11 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 53.6% |
| 12 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 52.3% |
| 13 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 51.2% |
| 14 | Central Luzon (Region III) | 49.9% |
Unemployment rate (2023)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 13 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 3.6% |
| 11 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 3.6% |
| 12 | Davao Region (Region XI) | 3.2% |
| 13 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 3.2% |
| 14 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 3.1% |
| 15 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 3.0% |
| 16 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | 2.8% |
Labour force participation rate (age 15 and over) (2023)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 3 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source.
| Rank | Region | Labour force participation rate (age 15 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 74.1% |
| 2 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 73.2% |
| 3 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 69.3% |
| 4 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 68.9% |
| 5 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 66.2% |
| 6 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | 65.6% |
| 7 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | 64.9% |
Underemployment rate (2023)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 1 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source.
| Rank | Region | Underemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 25.3% |
| 2 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 24.8% |
| 3 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 20.4% |
| 4 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 17.3% |
| 5 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 16.2% |
| 6 | CALABARZON (Region IV-A) | 14.7% |
| 7 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | 14.4% |
Households with electricity (2022)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 16 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source. Survey estimate with a margin of error.
| Rank | Region | Households with electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Davao Region (Region XI) | 92.7% |
| 12 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 92.3% |
| 13 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 91.8% |
| 14 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 90.5% |
| 15 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 90.0% |
| 16 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 89.1% |
| 17 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 62.9% |
Households owning a computer (2022)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 15 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source. Survey estimate with a margin of error.
| Rank | Region | Households owning a computer |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 22.0% |
| 12 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 22.0% |
| 13 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | 21.0% |
| 14 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 21.0% |
| 15 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 19.0% |
| 16 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 14.0% |
| 17 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 6.0% |
More on SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII): overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · the Philippines
Sources
- Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program): 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey: selected national and regional indicators (DHS Program API), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 401a0e9d6912…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority: Gross Regional Domestic Product at Current Prices, by Region, Major Industry: 2018 to 2025 (OpenStat table 0052B5BGRP0, CSV export; values in thousand pesos), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0424b0ab102c…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority: Philippine Statistical Yearbook, Table 11.1: Total Population 15 Years Old and Over by Employment Status and Region, 2014 to 2023 (Labor Force Survey; OpenStat table, CSV export), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a991f0e2dc46…)
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