DOLE: Jobless youths account for half of PH’s unemployed sector

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The number of unemployed Filipino youth may have decreased by 13,000 by April 2014, but it still accounts for more than half of the Philippines’ jobless sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported.

DOLE said 1.456 million Filipino youths who belong to the 18-24 age bracket were jobless according to the Philippine Statistical Authority’s Labor Force Survey.

While youth unemployment decreased by just 1.1 percent from 16.8 percent in April 2013 to 15.7 percent in April 2014, it still accounts for more than half of the 2.9 million unemployed Filipinos in the country, it said.

According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, half of unemployment could go down if youth unemployment would be addressed.

“The country’s unemployment rate will go down by at least half if youth unemployment is solved,” she said.

Baldoz said the DOLE has launched the implementation of the JobStart Philippines program to address youth unemployment.

She said the program aims to increase the employability of the youth by providing them access to technical and life skills training demanded by employers.

“The fact remains that youth unemployment rate is more than double the national unemployment rate and, therefore, this is a challenge we all need to address,” Baldoz said.

She explained that through JobStart, youths aged 18-24 years of age, who are either currently not working, or have less than a year of work experience, and who are not enrolled in an educational or training program, or who have at least completed a high school education, can access technical and skills training and on-the-job opportunities that would improve their chances of landing a job.

“JobStart’s objective is to raise the youth job placement rate to 80 percent from the current 60-65 percent rate,” she said.

Under JobStart, the youth beneficiaries will receive “full-cycle employment facilitation services that include Career Guidance and Coaching, Life Skills training, Technical skills training and Company-based internships.”

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