Pangasinan unemployment rate goes down by .9%

LINGAYEN, Philippines – Despite the rise of jobless Filipinos, Pangasinan’s unemployment rate went down to 8.3 percent in April this year from 9.2 percent during the same period last year, posting a decrease of .9 percent.

A news dispatch dated Sept. 15 by the Agence France Presse reported that unemployment in the Philippines jumped to 7.6 percent from year-ago rate of 6.8 percent, or an increase of .8 percent.

Alex Ferrer, chief of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), said Pangasinan posted a decrease in unemployment due to the effective implementation of various manpower and employment development programs by the provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

Ferrer noted that since Espino assumed his post in July 2007, the PESO has accomplished more than what was expected with high turnouts in job fairs, job placements and assistance, and other special programs that include the employment of students, career guidance or employment counseling and testing, and assistance to OFWs.

“Job solicitation was intensified and even the provincial government had its share of absorbing job applicants, mostly skilled workers and laborers for its various infrastructure projects,” he said.

He added that the influx of big companies like Shoemart in Rosales town also helped create jobs.

The current total labor force of Pangasinan, according to the National Statistics Office, is 1.8 million.

Ferrer said the various programs of the Pangasinan PESO are geared toward improving the unemployment rate. During the first quarter this year, the province registered a 91.7 percent placement rate.

“One million Pangasinenses have better jobs now compared to the previous years,” he said.

The PESO said most of the job openings offered in their job fairs are for welders, hotel workers, medical staff, and factory workers.

Just recently, the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) and PESO tied up for a job bridging program wherein interested individuals may get training in housekeeping, commercial cooking and household services.

Specialized skills training for OFWs include welding, carpentry, plumbing and culinary arts, all considered highly in demand in the tourism and industry sectors, as well as front desk and tour-guiding services.