Pinoy jobseekers opting to ‘underskill’ selves to get employed

MANILA, Philippines - Many Filipino jobseekers are now opting to “underskill” themselves just to get employed, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they have observed a trend of underskilling or occupational downgrading among young graduates and other jobseekers in the country.

“Since they cannot qualify for the jobs they really like and are targeting for one reason or another, there are jobseekers who underskill and accept positions lower than their skills so they can get employed,” she said.

Licensed accountants are employed as cashiers or accounting clerks in various firms nationwide, she added.

Baldoz said the DOLE has no data on the number of underskilled workers in the country.

“To me (it’s) a good attitude because how can one know that he or she would later on qualify for a position that he is really aspiring for if he won’t accept a job that would enable him to gain experience,” she said.

Baldoz said employers consider various factors in hiring workers.

“Skills can be acquired but the question is, is the worker ready for the job,” she said.

Baldoz said many young workers appear unready to get a job and uninterested in seeking employment.

“The youth who comprise nearly half of the unemployed in the country seem not to be pressured to look for a job,” she said. “They simply don’t exert any effort, based on a survey.”