By Karen Joy Alcober, Communication Officer, Plan Int'l
“When I graduated high school in 2015, I knew I wouldn’t enter college because my mother could not afford to put me in school. I applied for a scholarship but I did not pass the exam,”
shares Victor, 19, from Samar.
Victor’s family could not afford to support his education. They lost their livelihood after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Unable to enter college, he tried to look for a job to support his brothers' and sisters’ education. But with no work experience and a high school diploma, he knew it would be difficult for him to find a decent work.
Victor’s story is the story of thousands of youth in the disaster-affected region and thousands more across the country.
untapped ASSET
According to the 2016 Labor Force Survey, the national unemployment rate is estimated at 6.1%. Of the total unemployed, half are from the age group 15 to 24 years old. Government data also shows that majority of the unemployed youth have not reached college.
It’s a challenge for disadvantaged youth to find decent work as many employers seek college graduates.
There is also a growing mismatch in the supply of graduates and the demand for skills. Many training courses are not linked to in-demand apprenticeship opportunities, resulting to trainees having lesser chances of employment. According to government data, only 10 out of 1,000 applicants are hired because they do not have the skills needed in the market.
A recent market study in Eastern Visayas commissioned by Asian Development Bank’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction shows also that high unemployment remains among youth coming from poor households.
Youth employment through skills based training
To address youth unemployment, Plan International works closely with the government through its Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote economic empowerment of the youth and communities in difficult situations and ensure their financial stability and security when crisis strikes.
In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and various funding partners, Plan International facilitated the training of more than 3,000 youth on welding, housekeeping, food and beverage servicing, food processing, computer hardware servicing, carpentry, electrical installation and maintenance, automotive and small engines servicing, and other in-demand skills. On top of that, all youth beneficiaries also received life skills trainings on financial literacy, digital literacy, family planning, safe migration, and disability inclusion awareness to enhance their employability.
Through this initiative, Victor has found employment as a mechanic.
“When I graduated high school in 2015, I never imagined I’d find myself a job a year after,” says Victor, who received training on Automotive Servicing and passed the national certification.
His training was funded by the government of Japan through the Asian Development Bank’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
Victor’s story of finding decent work through TVET is considered a success, but many are not as fortunate as him.
Second class citizens?
“In the Philippines, TVET graduates are considered as second class citizens. Our society gives higher value to degree holders,” says Cleta Omega, regional director of TESDA in Eastern Visayas.
“We must change this. There must be a paradigm shift,” she adds.
According to Ms. Omega, there is still limited awareness and appreciation of the real value of technical skills education. Many youth still think that TVET is not a legitimate track to take, while some employers are hesitant to employ TVET graduates. Even youth with national certification for their skills still have difficulty finding decent work.
In a conference with the business sector last September, Plan International and TESDA officials talked to attendees about the stigma on TVET and called for a change of mind.
“There should be more investments in corporate citizenship, including partnership with civil society and close collaboration with government agencies working on the supply side to address employment issues moving forward,” says Peter Bellen, Plan International Asia’s Youth Employment Solutions Advisor.
“Companies and business groups should also look into unemployed youth as potential customers and clients. The youth will comprise the majority of consumers in the next 10-20 years, and if these unemployed youth get into decent wage or self-employment, they will have the resources to purchase goods and services,” he continues.
shares Victor, 19, from Samar.
Victor’s family could not afford to support his education. They lost their livelihood after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Unable to enter college, he tried to look for a job to support his brothers' and sisters’ education. But with no work experience and a high school diploma, he knew it would be difficult for him to find a decent work.
Victor’s story is the story of thousands of youth in the disaster-affected region and thousands more across the country.
untapped ASSET
According to the 2016 Labor Force Survey, the national unemployment rate is estimated at 6.1%. Of the total unemployed, half are from the age group 15 to 24 years old. Government data also shows that majority of the unemployed youth have not reached college.
It’s a challenge for disadvantaged youth to find decent work as many employers seek college graduates.
There is also a growing mismatch in the supply of graduates and the demand for skills. Many training courses are not linked to in-demand apprenticeship opportunities, resulting to trainees having lesser chances of employment. According to government data, only 10 out of 1,000 applicants are hired because they do not have the skills needed in the market.
A recent market study in Eastern Visayas commissioned by Asian Development Bank’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction shows also that high unemployment remains among youth coming from poor households.
Youth employment through skills based training
To address youth unemployment, Plan International works closely with the government through its Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote economic empowerment of the youth and communities in difficult situations and ensure their financial stability and security when crisis strikes.
In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and various funding partners, Plan International facilitated the training of more than 3,000 youth on welding, housekeeping, food and beverage servicing, food processing, computer hardware servicing, carpentry, electrical installation and maintenance, automotive and small engines servicing, and other in-demand skills. On top of that, all youth beneficiaries also received life skills trainings on financial literacy, digital literacy, family planning, safe migration, and disability inclusion awareness to enhance their employability.
Through this initiative, Victor has found employment as a mechanic.
“When I graduated high school in 2015, I never imagined I’d find myself a job a year after,” says Victor, who received training on Automotive Servicing and passed the national certification.
His training was funded by the government of Japan through the Asian Development Bank’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
Victor’s story of finding decent work through TVET is considered a success, but many are not as fortunate as him.
Second class citizens?
“In the Philippines, TVET graduates are considered as second class citizens. Our society gives higher value to degree holders,” says Cleta Omega, regional director of TESDA in Eastern Visayas.
“We must change this. There must be a paradigm shift,” she adds.
According to Ms. Omega, there is still limited awareness and appreciation of the real value of technical skills education. Many youth still think that TVET is not a legitimate track to take, while some employers are hesitant to employ TVET graduates. Even youth with national certification for their skills still have difficulty finding decent work.
In a conference with the business sector last September, Plan International and TESDA officials talked to attendees about the stigma on TVET and called for a change of mind.
“There should be more investments in corporate citizenship, including partnership with civil society and close collaboration with government agencies working on the supply side to address employment issues moving forward,” says Peter Bellen, Plan International Asia’s Youth Employment Solutions Advisor.
“Companies and business groups should also look into unemployed youth as potential customers and clients. The youth will comprise the majority of consumers in the next 10-20 years, and if these unemployed youth get into decent wage or self-employment, they will have the resources to purchase goods and services,” he continues.
