6 out of 10 TESDA grads get jobs within a year

MANILA, Philippines - Six out of 10 or 62 percent of graduates from technical vocational education and training courses secure a job within the first six months to one year after their graduation, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said on Friday.

"(Technical vocational education and training) graduates are sitting on a sweet spot as many of them get hired immediately after graduation," TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said, citing results of a recent impact evaluation the state agency conducted among its graduates.

"It's a testament that TESDA is on the right track of gearing its programs and services towards helping students obtain the in-demand skills and helping them find employment or start their own business," he said.

He added that TESDA offers courses developed together with industry practitioners.

"This is a guarantee that students come out of the training program possessing the competencies fit to the industry requirements. This way, they have better chances of landing in jobs within a short period of job search," Villanueva said.

The state agency is also working with the information communication technology-business process outsourcing, electronics, tourism, health and wellness, agriculture and agri-business, and general infrastructure/construction industries to identify priority sectors in need of workers.

"Technical vocational education and training could just offer the best chance at a solid career to graduates, and the savior against the rising unemployment," Villanueva said.