BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – In Western Visayas, the gap between the skills and qualifications employers require and the skills individuals possess or have acquired is widening, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC).
In its Regional Development Plan for 2023 – 2028, the council highlighted the inadequacy of workers’ education and training skills, both in quantity and quality, to meet the demands of the labor market.
“In addition, some skills have become obsolete due to digitization, technological advancements, and the evolving needs of industries,” the council reported.
The services sector, which accounted for 59 percent of the region’s total economy in 2021, provided the majority of employment, the council noted.
It observed that the employment rate of technical and vocational training (TVET) graduates in 2021, at 83.3 percent, fell significantly short of the end-of-plan target of 95 percent, despite an increase in the number of TVET graduates from the previous year.
Conversely, the council reported that the graduation rate of enrollees in the TVET Skills Training Program over the past two years remained high, at above 90 percent.
“The certification rate of TVET graduates also surpassed the annual target in 2021, reaching 94 percent,” the council cited.
To enhance employability through relevant education and skills development training, the council has developed strategic frameworks aimed at increasing the income-earning potential and developing and protecting the capabilities of individuals and families.
These strategies include efforts to mitigate job skills mismatches, boost investment in TVET human resources, pursue higher education, and foster digitalization initiatives and innovation facilities.
They also emphasize the importance of strengthening partnerships among government institutions for the implementation of skills development policies and strategies and promoting equal opportunities in employment, education, and skills development.
Efforts to broaden access to employment opportunities include intensifying employment bridging programs and career advancement support services, as well as enhancing skills assessment and mapping mechanisms to meet labor market demands.
“This highlights methods for expanding access to employment opportunities and ensuring worker protection and safety through improved shared labor market governance,” the council explained.
It also mentioned that mechanisms for skills assessment and certification programs will be established to aptly meet industry needs.
These strategies aim to expand access to employment opportunities, with coordination efforts among government institutions and the private sector being enhanced through the establishment of more effective employment programs for the youth, marginalized, disadvantaged, and vulnerable sectors.
According to the council, the strategies would guarantee inclusivity and equitable access to labor market information, and that prioritizing knowledge and skills enhancement programs to boost productivity is essential for an empowered and protected workforce./PN
