DOLE to students: Veer away from nursing courses

An official from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday urged incoming college students to veer away from nursing courses because the demand for nurses has declined.   In an interview with "News To Go" anchor Howie Severino, Labor Communications Director Nicon Fameronag said, “Pinupunteriya nila kapag nag-enroll sila ay makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa, subalit may mga bansa naman [kung saan] hirap nang pumasok ang mga nurses.”    Fameronag said nurses would find a hard time getting into countries such as:

• Japan, where language training is required;
• the United States, where he said the unemployment rate is higher than the Philippines; and
• the United Kingdom, which recently underwent a change in government.

  He noted that the demand of nurses overseas is centered in the Middle East, including Jordan, which recently agreed to the “Principles and Controls for Regulating Deployment and Employment of Filipino Domestic Workers.”    “Sinasabi ng isang may-ari ng ospital doon, may oversupply sila ng male Jordanian nurses, pero napakalaki ng shortage nila ng female nurses so napipilitan silang kumuha ng nurses sa Pilipinas,” he said.   He added that Saudi Arabia, even with a prevailing “Saudization” program, is still open to more Filipino nurses.   However, despite these career opportunities, Fameronag reiterated the DOLE’s call for students to veer away from nursing courses.    “’Yan ang pakiusap natin… Kung magiging realistic ka about it, na kapag ikaw ay nakatapos ng nursing, mahihirapang maghanap ng trabaho kasi nga may oversupply [dito sa Pilipinas],” he said.   “Meron din tayong pinalalago na lokal na ekonomiya para nandito sa ating bansa ang ating mga kababayan,” he added. “Kung gusto lang rin ng mga magulang na ma-recover agad ‘yung investment nila sa education, kung maaari ay kumuha na ng kursong patok, na maikli ‘yung distinction period between graduation and ‘yung paghahanap ng trabaho.” DOLE study   In a study conducted by the DOLE in 2009, overseas employment (domestic helpers, nurses, caregivers, and laborers) ranked 12th in the list of in-demand occupations in the Philippines.   However, the study showed that there is also a demand for Filipinos in the following fields of expertise overseas: 1. Creative industries (broadcast engineer, video editor, animators) 2. Diversified / strategic farming and fishing (fisherman, horticulturist, farmer) 3. Power and utilities (equipment operator, electrical technician, mechanic) 4. Renewable energy (checker, loader)   Meanwhile, the in-demand occupations in the Philippines can be found in the following industries: 1. Agribusiness (animal husbandry, aqua-culturist, horticulturist) 2. Cyberservices (call center agent) 3. Health, wellness, and medical tourism (nurse, optometrist) 4. Hotel and restaurant (baker, waiter, bartender, room attendant) 5. Mining (miner, geologist, machinist) 6. Construction (fabricator, pipe filter, welder) 7. Banking and finance (operations manager, teller) 8. Manufacturing (finance and accounting managers, food technologists, machine operator, sewer) 9. Ownership dwellings, real / retirement estate (construction worker, real estate agent / broker) 10. Transport and logistics (maintenance mechanic, stewardess) 11. Wholesale and retail (merchandiser / buyer, salesman / saleslady)   The study was a result of a “nationwide consultation” conducted by the DOLE among businessmen, chambers of commerce, and stakeholders, all of whom were asked about what they think the Philippine labor market would need in five to 10 years.   For more information on this study and on profitable career paths, Fameronag encouraged students to visit www.ble.dole.gov.ph for the 101 Career Guide drafted by the DOLE. - VVP, GMA News