Labor moves to identify skills shortages

MANILA, Philippines - In an effort to finally control the worsening unemployment problem in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment has started data gathering to identify skills shortages and manpower surplus nationwide.

Anne Dione, DOLE-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) director, said they are now conducting an integrated employment and occupational wages survey.

Dione said the simultaneous surveys are meant to rationalize DOLE activities on the collection of data, specifically on key labor and employment indicators.

“These surveys are aimed to provide the public with an integrated data set on key labor and employment indicators and are in pursuit of the DOLE agenda to be transparent and accessible,” said Dione.

According to Dione, the OWS gather data on the actual employment and wage rates of time-rated workers providing ser­vices on full-time basis in selected occupations in identified non-agricultural industries.

The other study, is geared to generate an integrated data set in employment of specific groups of workers, occupational shortages and surpluses, balancing work and family responsibilities and working time arrangements, occupational safety and health, and occupational injuries and diseases.

“The data gathered under the OWS are vital in wage and salary administration and in wage determination which are crucial inputs to collective bargaining negotiations, while the data gathered under the BITS are indispensable inputs to studies on industry trends and practices. These data serve as bases for policy recommendations on employment, conditions of work and industrial relations,” Dione said.