MANILA – The Philippine labor market has severely suffered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic since last year.
According to the recent Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, about 7.1% or 3.44-million Filipinos were unemployed in March.
In response to the situation, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has encouraged jobseekers to improve their digital skills, especially since many industries have shifted to the “work from home” model to cope with the ongoing health crisis in the country.
In the JobsFit COVID-19 Labor Market Information (LMI) Report of DOLE in 2020, the agency found that majority of jobseekers were assessed on their digital and technical skills during their application.
Among the required skills sought by prospective employers were digital literacy, financial literacy, and occupational safety and health skills.
Companies also want their applicants to have integrity, stress tolerance, and good management of their physical, mental, and reproductive health, the report said.
To address the employment skills gaps of Filipinos, the Government-Academe-Industry Network (GAIN) will hold its 4th National Convention on May 27 and 28, 2021 via Zoom.
GAIN is a nonprofit organization that aims to help the country’s new graduates and growing workforce to be globally competitive, especially in fields of discipline that require compliance with international standards.
“The event brings together key decision makers from the public and private sectors, all of whom are invested in collaborating with unity and purpose to reinforce the competencies and global competitiveness of the Filipino workforce,” the organization said in a press release.
This year, the GAIN convention will feature talks on the post-pandemic workplace and its impact on the Filipino workforce, global digital proficiency standards, opportunities for remote workers and freelancers, and future-proofing careers, to name a few.
The event will also shine the spotlight on global communication standards for the digital economy.
Among the distinguished guest speakers during the two-day event are Education Usec. Diosdado San Antonio and Labor Asec. Dominique Tutay. Also participating are key players from higher education institutions and private companies.
Interested individuals and groups can register at gaininc.weebly.com/register, or contact Louise Anne Ferenal-Marquez at 0917-7189910.
