JOB APPLICANTS BY THE THOUSANDS. Thousands of jobseekers join the Labor Day job fair at the Robinsons Place-Jaro facilitated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Western Visayas on Wednesday (May 1, 2019). The region based on the January 2019 Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority was at 96.1 percent, an increase of one percent when compared with the 2017 survey. (Photo by DOLE 6)
ILOILO CITY -- The construction boom in Western Visayas is expected to further boost the employment rate of the region, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director.
“One of the reasons is the proliferation of hotels and restaurants and construction boom in Negros (Occidental) and Iloilo,” said Engr. Cyril Ticao, DOLE Western Visayas regional director on Friday.
DOLE cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), showing the employment rate in Western Visayas based on the January 2019 Labor Force Survey was at 96.1 percent.
This indicates a one percent increase when compared with the same period in 2017 and “significantly higher” than the country’s over-all employment rate of 94.8 percent.
Meanwhile, Ticao admitted that the closure of Boracay Island made an “impact” on the employment rate of the region but it is now picking up.
During the closure, DOLE recorded more than 28,000 workers affected based on application for financial assistance that was submitted to their office.
“There were those who were reassigned to other places temporarily,” Ticao added.
Those affected were also assured that they will be returned to their jobs upon reopening of Boracay Island.
In addition to increased employment rate, the region also recorded improved underemployment rate for the same period. From 22.9 percent last year, the underemployment rate declined to 16.8 percent.
Niezel Anen Sabrido, labor focal person, said that the top five needed jobs in Western Visayas are related to administrative and support service, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, manufacturing and construction.
“Graduates of Western Visayas fill these positions because most of the graduates are nursing-related, accountants and engineers, among others. They fit the need of the industry,” she added.
Meantime, during the Labor Day job fair in Iloilo City, 65 of the thousands of applicants were hired-on-the-spot while 1,600 were on a nearly-hired status. (PNA)
