LINGAYEN—Defying the trend at the national level, unemployment rate in the province decreased to 8.3 percent from January to present this year from 9.2 percent in the same period last year.

The overall unemployment rate in the Philippines jumped to 7.6 percent from 6.8 percent last year.

Alex Ferrer, chief of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), attributed the lower rate in Pangasinan to the effective implementation of various manpower and employment development programs of the provincial government.

He cited the series of job recruitments, special program for employment of students, career guidance or employment counseling and testing and assistance to Overseas Filipino Worker.

Another factor is the influx of big companies like SM Shoemart in Rosales.

The current total labor force of Pangasinan is 1.8million based on data from the National Statistics Office.

JOB PROGRAMS

Ferrer said PESO Pangasinan continues to conduct projects under the Special Program for Employment of Students in addition to the scholarship program being offered.

Career guidance and employment counseling or testing is also regularly held in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment.

Recently, the Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) and PESO Pangasinan partnered for the Job Bridging Program where participants are trained on housekeeping, commercial cooking and household services.

Most job openings being offered in job fairs are for skilled workers such as welders, hotel workers including cooks and housekeepers, medical workers and factory workers.

Also offered are specialized skills training for OFWs include welding, carpentry, plumbing and culinary arts which are considered in high demand in the tourism and industry sectors, including front desk and tour-guiding services.—LM

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