A RECENT situational report by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) found that fresh graduates of the so-called “pandemic generation” are finding it more difficult to find employment due to the lack of “soft skills” and practical job skills that could have been honed in face-to-face classes.
The report also found that new graduates tended to experience “culture shock” upon entering the workplace “because their expectations differ[ed] from what they were taught at school.”
It noted, too, that many graduates “lack job readiness” as most students have had to undergo their internships virtually, thus, the skills they learned online “could not be translated into actual practice.”
The CHR’s findings were taken from various focus group discussions with officials of the national government, prospective employers, school teachers, administrators and principals, and the youth.
The results, while expected, is troubling. The government should actively work to address the gaps that have been identified. It could, for example, provide a bridging program for fresh graduates that would help them acquire the skills they have missed during online classes.
It might be a good idea for the government to provide an avenue where new graduates can fill their skills gaps, including in areas such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Such a program could help place new graduates on equal footing with previously laid-off employees, which the Employers Confederation of the Philippines said are currently being prioritized by companies due to their experience.
Also, there is a need for the government to establish linkages with industries to help identify the skills that new graduates need to land available jobs and ensure job fit.
Frankly, we need a national conversation and soul searching on the job situation. We need to know what the deficiencies are, and what to do to fill the gaps. We need the inputs of all stakeholders concerned.
