WITH the Marcos administration taking over in less than three weeks, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday identified the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) and agricultural sectors as the top industries that needs continued focus from the government.
In a virtual press briefing, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the new administration will need to put premium on the BPOP sector as it is the country’s “most resilient” sector.
But, she added, the Marcos government should also zero in on improving the agricultural sector lower underemployment in the country.
“It is in the agricultural sector where there are most underemployment because of the seasonality of the work,” said the labor official.
Another industry, she said, would be the digital sector considering the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“We are now in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and, therefore, we have to make use of digital skills and digital technology,” said Tutay.
Lastly, she said there is a need for the new administration to reinvigorate the manufacturing sector after it became stagnant amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) result shows that there were 2.76 million unemployed Filipinos in April 2022.
The number is lower than the 4.14 million jobless in April 2021, and the 2.87 million unemployed in March 2022.
For its part, the outgoing Duterte administration expressed belief that it was able to do its best to find employment for Filipinos during its six-year tenure.
Speaking during the job fair held for the celebration of the 124th Independence Day of the Philippines at the provincial capitol gymnasium in Malolos, Bulacan, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they have proven that employment was one of the top priorities of President Duterte.
