Filipino youth unemployment climbed to 21.5%
About 21.5% or 1.5 million Filipino youth are unable to find jobs this year, according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay.
During a virtual forum, Tutay said that the implemented quarantine restrictions prevented workers below 21 from finding employment as they could not leave their homes.
However, the DOLE assistant secretary stated that they took the lockdowns as an opportunity to digitize their modules and career information pamphlets to reach more audiences in the country.
The agency also enforced programs such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad), COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong to help the unemployed population.
In addition, online platforms are also made available to help job-seekers land a job in various sectors nationwide.
Tutay added that employees need to “evolve and adapt to the fast-transforming world of work” to survive the new normal.
DOLE is also encouraging job seekers and workers to “upskill and re-skill” as the economy bounces back from the pandemic.
