Labor chief: Over 1 million jobseekers placed in 2013

CEBU, Philippines - The year 2013 is a record-breaking year for Philippine Employment Service Offices, popularly known as the PESOs, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz recently announced.

"The PESOs in 2013 broke the record for jobseekers placed. As of October 31, they have already placed 1,092,222 jobseekers to various jobs in the 3,199,656 job vacancies posted/solicited," said Baldoz in a report from the department's website.

The figure, she said, already surpasses PESOs' placement target of 1,025,574 by 6 percent, and the target for job vacancies posted or solicited of 2,764,233 by 15.75 percent for the entire 2013.

According to labor and employment chief, the 1,092,222 jobseekers placed for the January-October 2013 period is well comparable to the 1,152.228 jobseekers placed by the PESOs in the whole year of 2012.

The 2012 number of job vacancies posted or solicited by the PESOs was 3,194,009, lower by only 5,647 job vacancies than the 2013 PESOs accomplishment as of October 31.

Baldoz expects the number of jobseekers placed and the vacancies posted or solicited by the PESOs to still increase.

"November and December 2013 data are still being collated," she said.

She explained that the PESOs were able to achieve the feat in 2013 due to the concerted efforts of all DOLE regional offices, local government units, and the PESOs themselves and their partners.

Another highlight of the PESOs'2013 accomplishment is the total number of jobseekers the PESOs referred for placement. As of 31 October, the number has reached 1,292,071 jobseekers, or 94.75 percent of the whole year target of 1,354,883 jobseekers referred.

"The number of jobseekers the PESOs refer for placement and the total number of jobseekers they actually place are major indicators of the PESOs' performance because these give us a clear picture of how many jobseekers were assisted to land in decent and productive wage employment," Baldoz observed.

Data from the Bureau of Local Employment show that the top five PESOs that registered high numbers of jobseekers placed are those of Region 10, with 69,916, higher by 27,187, or 63 percent, than the target of 42,729; Caraga, with 82,941, up by 25,328, or 43 percent, than its target of 57,613;

Region 3, with 170,840, up by 35,262, or 48 percent, than its target of 135,578; Region 7, with 94,495, higher by 30,365, or 41 percent, than its target of 64,130; and the National Capital Region, with 120,221, exceeding by 17,322, or 18 percent, its target of 102,899.

The PESOs whose numbers of jobseekers placed were below target are those of Region 4-B, whose number of jobseekers placed of 22,138 as of 31 October is lower by 12,278, or 35.6 percent, than its target of 34,416; Region 9, with 8,208, which is short by 3,461, or 29.6 percent, of its target of 11,669;

Region 4-A, with 147,641, which is 25,599, or 14.7 percent, lower than its target of 173,240; Region 6, with jobseekers placed of 139,814, which is 25,096, or 15.2 percent, below its target of 164,910; and Region 11, with 37,121, which is lower by 14,189, or 27.6 percent, than its target of 51,310.

Baldoz said that for 2014, the challenge to the PESOs is not only to surpass their targets, but to ensure the quality of jobs solicited and the qualifications of jobseekers for the right job at the right time. (FREEMAN)