June 8, 2021
By Reina Lyne Pintang
INCREASING JOBLESSNESS. The rate of unemployment in the Philippines will continue to rise and may hit up to 9% in 2022. Infographic/Caption by Reina Lyne Pintang.
Based on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 released by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the unemployment rate is expected to reach up to 7.0 to 9.0 percent in 2022, higher than the 5.1 percent initially predicted in 2019. The department sees the increase as a result of the rise in the workforce because of the additional supply of workers from the first batch of K-12 graduates.
It was dusk when Leo, not his real name, finished his classes for the day. With his heavy and sleepy eyes, he went to the nearest convenience store to grab an early dinner. His usual order is a 20-peso ready-to-eat packed meal and bulalo flavored cup noodles. After eating, he took a warm bath to freshen himself up. Then, he checked his laptop and headset to prepare for his shift. At 9 pm, he started to answer phone calls from various customers, which he will endure until five in the morning.
Currently, in his third year in college, Leo cannot wait to finish his studies. He wants to finally work without the fear of failing in school. Being the eldest in a family with six children, Leo intends to help his parents with the school fees and living finances.
However, it will surely not going to be easy with NEDA’s prediction.
The ‘trial and error’ batch
Since the School Year 2012-2013, the education system in the Philippines began to implement the K-12 program. Adding two years in high school, the 10-year basic education cycle was changed to a 12-year curriculum.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the K-12 program aims to prepare graduates for employment. Most high school graduates of the old curriculum were less than 18 years old, thus, were too young and unprepared to enter the workforce. The department, then, claimed that the additional two years will help the students hone the skills and expertise they need for employment.
But for the students themselves, this does not seem to be the case now.
“Two years ago ata medyo kampante ako na makakakuha ako ng trabaho agad pagkagraduate. Syempre kasi after six years in high school, nag four years pa kami sa college, so alam mo ‘yun? Nasa isip ko mas kukunin kami ng mga employer kasi mas marami kaming time sa school. Tapos ngayon syempre wala na ‘yung ganung thought,” Leo said in between deep sighs when he remembered NEDA’s prediction. The thought of getting welcomed by a high volume of unemployment, instead of job offerings did not sit well with him.
(Two years ago, I was so sure that I would immediately get a job after I graduate. I was expecting that after six years in high school and four years in college, employers will prefer to hire us because we spent more time in school. Of course, that thought is gone now).
Leo also mentioned the grievances that he shares with his batch mates as well as their unfortunate experiences starting the K-12 program.
“Imagine being the first to go through the K-12 program and years later also the first to deal with the very challenging online learning. Tapos ngayong malapit na grumaduate, mahihirapan naman kami humanap ng trabaho. Grabe! Hindi ko alam bakit ang malas ng batch namin,” he added.
(Imagine being the first to go through the K-12 program and years later also the first to deal with the very challenging online learning. And, now that we are about to graduate, it will still be hard to find a job. I don’t know why our batch is so unlucky).
Wanted: Job opening
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded an unemployment rate of 8.7 percent or around 3.8 million unemployed Filipinos in January 2021.
Alyssa, not her real name, a former administrative officer in a construction supply company in Quezon City, is one of those who lost their job due to the current health crisis. Still unable to find a sustainable one, she fears having a lesser job opportunity as companies start to prefer graduates from the K-12 program.
“Nagsara ‘yung kumpanya na pinagtatrabahuhan ko dahil sa COVID at hanggang ngayon ‘di pa ako nakakahanap ng trabaho. Baka pag-graduate ng mga nag K-12, sila na ang kunin ng mga kumpanya,” Alyssa emphasized.
(The company that I worked for closed because of COVID and, until now, I still can’t find a job. When students from the K-12 program graduate, companies might prefer them over us (who graduated from the old curriculum).
Alyssa is a graduate of a two-year technical-vocational course in a private college in Antipolo City. She is the breadwinner in their family. To sustain their everyday needs, Alyssa is currently selling baked goods online. But, she still hopes to land a job that is aligned with the course that she finished in college.
"Syempre, gusto ko rin naman magamit 'yung pinag-aralan ko. Pero, wala eh sa ngayon itong pagtitinda muna ang kaya kong pagkuhanan ng kita. Pero kapag nabigyan ng pagkakataon, bakit naman hindi, ‘di ba?"
(Of course, I want to make use of my studies. However, as of now, I can only earn [enough] income by baking. But if given a chance, why not, right?)
Consequently, Acting NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua of the Education Department clarified that the rise of unemployment is just temporary. The department believes that it will eventually ease as the country recovers from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, NEDA Undersecretary Rose Edillon emphasized that there are about 2.4 million to 2.8 million jobs to be created this year, and 1 million to 1.2 million jobs in 2022.
“We are already thinking of having more of these retraining and retooling programs and even more scholarships in order to increase the employability of graduates and even the labor force,” she added. SYNC IN.
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