An annual survey by the Holy Name University (HNU) recently showed Bohol’s unemployment rate at 10%, but about 25% of those unemployed told enumerators that they are currently looking for suitable work.
The term unemployment however, HNU Bohol Poll means these people desires to find work in the near future.
At the annual survey to gather social temperature in Bohol, it shows that the province has not considerably wrestled itself free from unemployment problem since it had the figures playing from 8% to 12% in the last five years.
Despite this, more Boholanos do not think leaving Bohol to seek work elsewhere is a good idea, the survey revealed.
For those 25% who are seeking jobs, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) directs them to three jobs search kiosks (JSK) the government has installed in the towns of Maribojoc, Calape and Jagna, according to Bohol DOLE officer-in-charge German Guidaben.
A Job Search Kiosk is an information portal housed in an ATM-type, stand-alone equipment, which provides information on local and overseas job opportunities and other employment related information. It helps job seekers to fast-track access to relevant information on job openings, hiring requirements of employers or upgrade, their skills through the TESDA programs and BLE career guides, DOLE, in its website stated.
Housed in the mentioned town’s Public Employment Service Offices, the JSKs can be accessed by anyone seeking for jobs which match his qualifications, Guidaben explained, speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA Thursday.
DOLE through Guidaben said these JSKs are installed as the towns enrolled for the DOLE facility while preparing for the technical support to have the kiosk operational. These towns keep employment databank, skills inventory and similar data which could be helpful in facilitating jobs matching.
The survey, which run from March 26 to April 17, used 400 respondents: about 100 for each district in Bohol and another 100 from Tagbilaran City, according to Maria Paz Espiritu, Bohol Poll Project Director,
The same survey revealed that the biggest unemployment rate, which is practically employable and capable, belongs to the male group of 18 to 24 years old age bracket from class C.
And Bohol Poll in fact validates the data on the urge to find work: about 25% of those unemployed said they are looking for suitable work. Of those looking for work, 41% of the respondents are male, while 45% of them are from the age brackets 18-24.
These are the people who need the constant access to job fairs, a thing which the JSKs can ably serve, observers at the recent DOLE Labor Day event at the Galeria Luisa said.
As this developed, the same survey showed the provincial government sliding lowest in its five year support to the promotion of agriculture, Bohol’s biggest employment niche.
Bohol Polls this year showed the Provincial Government scoring +11 in supporting for the promotion of agriculture, from a high +43 in 2013 and +36 in 2011.
In providing for livelihood opportunities and employment, Capitol scored +15, but this is also the lowest in the last five years, Bohol Poll showed.
The provincial government also obtains the same sagging score in tourism promotions, another job seeker’s refuge: at +44% from a high +68 in 2014, reads Poll director Espiritu. (rac/PIA-7Bohol)