Unemployment rises to 2.9 million

Unemployment in the Philippines went up to 2.9 million in January 2014 against 2.7 million a year ago, according to a National Statistics Office survey.

 

In a report on "24 Oras" aired Thursday evening, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said 50 percent of those unemployed are in the youth sector, or are between 15 and 24 years old.

"One fifth po diyan ay educated. More than twice the national rate po ang ating youth unemployment," she said.

 

But even older jobseekers with degrees are having a hard time finding a job.

 

"Sa edad kong 32, ang hirap mag-apply. Aalis ako ng alas sais ng umaga, uuwi ng alas singko para lang mag-apply," Marsan Tarroquin, who has a degree in Marine Transportation, said in the report.
 

With 553,706 expected to graduate from college in March and April, it may be even harder to find jobs.

 

Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said high power costs and a lack of modern infrastructure means there are few investors coming in to create jobs.

 

According to job listing website Jobstreet.com.ph, job seekers have a higher chance of being hired in the following fields:

 

 

Jobstreet Country Manager Grace Colet said, though, that despite the demand in those fields, getting a job will still be a challenge.

 

"For example, yung BPO, pag nag-process sila ng 100 [applicants], ang makakapasa lang sa requirements nila sampu. At sa sampung yun, ang maha-hire lang talaga nila, tatlo. So yun yung isa sa mga challenges natin. How to improve the competencies," she said.

 

In the meantime, the Labor department is preparing for the expected influx of new graduates by organizing job fairs. The job fairs will provide the graduates with access to job vacancies as well as scholarships to skills training courses. — JDS, GMA News