A day after the National Statistics Office noted a rise in underemployment, Malacañang assured Saturday the government is making efforts to address the underemployment problem.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the efforts range from training skills to advice to college freshmen on what course to take to improve their chances of employment.

“Doon sa underemployment, apart from unemployment that’s something we are looking at.... Apart from continuing to offer training facilities for our workers who wish to upgrade their training skills or those who wish to acquire (skills), tinitingan natin. Pinag-aaralan ng DOLE ang job mismatch para saan pwede malagay ang proper set of skills,"  Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.

She said this is a joint effort by the DOLE and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to avoid job mismatches, where workers’ skills do not match their jobs.

President Benigno Aquino III had also tasked these agencies to “work together and share data,” she added.

“This is something ongoing with DOLE and TESDA to avoid (such) job mismatches in the future,” she said.

The NSO earlier said the country's overall jobs profile hardly changed in April despite posting a 6.4-percent “surprise” economic growth from January to March.

It also noted the April 2012 national jobless rate slipped to 6.9 percent from 7.2 percent in 2011.

Also, it said the jobless rate is highest in Metro Manila at 10.4 percent and underemployment is worst in Bicol at 34.7 percent.

But the figures also showed underemployed persons or those who work less than 40 hours a week and are seeking another work or longer hours of work, rose from 7.13 million to 7.31 million.

“Out of the estimated 62.8 million population 15 years old and over in April 2012, 40.6 million were in the labor force, compared to the estimated 39.7 million in April 2011. The labor force participation rate (LPFR) in April 2012 was 64.7 percent, while it was 64.2 percent in April 2011,” the NSO said.

The number of employed persons in April 2012 was estimated at 37.8 million.

College courses

Valte said the government’s efforts include advising college freshmen on what courses to take so their skills will not be wasted.

“Pagpasok ng college, the government can advise them these are courses that are viable that will be rich in job opportunities by the time you graduate para di magkaroon ng surplus in some areas because of the lack of advice,"  she said.

“The very first step, that’s what we want to address, first providing more jobs that will fit the skills of our workforce. You also decrease the numbers for underemployment,” she added. — LBG, GMA News