University News

ILS-DOLE, PUP COC, ARCDO collab for career development seminar

Piolo Cudal, Paul Bryan Bio, News, PUP Campus Journalists

The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), together with the PUP College of Communication (COC) and PUP Alumni Relations and Career Development Office (ARCDO), organized the #TrabahongTrending: Youth is the Future of Work, a career development seminar for senior communication research students on July 17 at Bulwagang Bonifacio of the University.

The event aimed to equip young professionals with critical tools and insights to thrive in the evolving labor landscape, featuring esteemed speakers.

In her opening remarks, Atty. Mary Grace L. Riguer-Teodosio, Deputy Executive Director III of ILS, emphasized the importance of career development seminars and the role of youth as “propellers” in the nation’s progress.

The seminar covered various topics, including the current labor market situation, basic labor rights, productive career choices, and the perspectives of Generation Z in the workplace.

Charting the intricacies of the labor landscape
Bureau of Labor and Local Employment Officer III Nelly-Ann Projo began by addressing the current state of the country’s labor market, emphasizing its stable momentum in both employment and unemployment rates.

“The Filipino labor force has proven remarkably resilient and adaptable evidenced by the sustained performance in labor and employment indicators, signaling a vibrant employment situation. Overall, we see that the economy and the labor market has been able to bounce back from its pre-pandemic level but the challenge for us now is how to sustain this consistent limit or end-of-plan target. So makikita natin na ’yong trend line sa employment ay pataas naman habang decreasing sa unemployment,” Projo said.

(So as we can see, the trend line for employment is increasing while decreasing for unemployment.)

She also presented the Jobs and Labor Market Forecast by the DOLE Regional Office, highlighting in-demand occupations across key growth sectors. These sectors include the medical field, construction, architecture and engineering, services and tourism, information technology, business processing, and platform work.

Given the rapidly evolving nature of work and the societal issues driving unprecedented transformations in the labor market, Projo stressed the need for “urgent and decisive action” to foster inclusive, high-quality, and productive employment opportunities.

Labor Mediator-Arbiter Atty. Ramon A. Saura III from the Bureau of Labor Relations discussed basic labor rights, differentiating workers’ rights and management prerogatives, and why they matter in the labor landscape.

“Kapag sinabing obligation sa mga manggagawa, definitely ’yong mga how to respect and obey the management prerogatives. Pero ang sinasabi ko lang, in the absence of bad faith and in violation of the workers’ rights ay na-uphold ang ating management prerogatives. In reverse, kapag in bad faith siya [management prerogatives] at abuso sa workers’ rights natin, it can be a labor dispute,” he explained.

(When we say “obligation” of workers, it definitely includes how to respect and obey management prerogatives. But what I’m saying is, in the absence of bad faith and violation of workers’ rights, our management prerogatives are upheld. In reverse, if management prerogatives are exercised in bad faith and abuse workers’ rights, it can lead to a labor dispute.)

Meanwhile, Reena May Ibanez, Labor and Employment Officer II at the National Wages and Productivity Commission, enlightened students on the concept of a “productive worker” as they prepare to enter the workforce. She also highlighted productive career choices, work ethics, and the five core values in the workplace.

The seminar also featured Senior Labor and Employment Officer Athena Mari E. Son from the Employment Research Division of ILS, who presented her research paper titled “Generation Z in the Philippine Labor Force: Profile, Perspectives, and Prospects.” Her presentation underscored the necessity of comprehensive labor market information to safeguard the welfare of young people and ensure their access to opportunities.

Gearing up before grad
“What’s next?” is a common question for graduating students. Despite holding their hard-earned diploma, the uncertainties of life outside of university still loom large.

Brent Yuri Jurado, a graduating Bachelor of Arts in Communication Research (BACR), believes seminars like this are crucial because they address the state of the labor market today and recommend holding them “annually.”

“Through this kind of seminar, I’ll be equipped with the right knowledge para meron akong babaunin after graduation so that I won’t be super lost sa mga gusto kong trabaho,” he added.

(...so that I would have something to look back on after graduation for me not to feel lost to the work that I truly desire).

Meanwhile, Allyssa Mae Flores, also a graduating student, shared how she initially felt afraid upon learning about the disproportionate work between AI and humans in the labor market.

However, Flores also believes that such seminars provide her with assurance amid concerns about a “bleak future” and “graduation blues,” emphasizing their continued relevance despite technological advancements.

“Sinabi doon sa talk na kahit 2.2 million ’yong job seekers, 2.4 [million] naman ’yong job openings na nandoon. So kailangan mo lang talaga to actively do the work para makakuha ka ng trabaho and para maging isa ka sa mga industry na emerging ngayon,” Flores added.

(It was mentioned in the talk that even though there are 2.2 million job seekers, there are 2.4 [million] job openings available. We just have to actively do the work for us to land a job and to be one of the emerging industries today.)

Employers’ top choice
In 2023, PUP was once again hailed as a top university choice for employers, as reported by employment platform JobStreet. The University maintained its prominence in fields such as Information Technology (IT), HR management, call centers, manufacturing, and wholesale trading.

As such, Dr. Hemmady S. Mora, former dean of the PUP COC, underscored in her talk the qualities that make PUP graduates preferred by employers, including humility, teachability, independence, and strong internship performance, among others.

For Jurado, however, this fact presents a double-edged sword. According to him, one negative aspect of PUP being the top choice for employers is that graduates are susceptible to exploitation.

“Madali silang [PUP graduates] mautusan kasi nga sabi nila, resilient daw tayo,” he said.

(They follow easily [PUP graduates] because they say that we are resilient).

However, Jurado also sees a positive side to this situation, as PUP graduates already have the limelight in the labor market, which he believes “says a lot about PUP and its students.”

Aspects to improve
Apart from the positive factors, Dr. Mora also pointed out the negative traits of PUPians that employers hope to see improved.

The former dean highlighted that PUP students need more confidence and better business correspondence skills. She also noted their tendency towards radical assertiveness, discussing instances where applicants were asked about their activism.

Such inquiries could be better addressed, Dr. Mora noted, if the applicant adhered to the true definition of activism, advising students on the importance of selecting companies that align with their life principles.

When asked how to improve these negative traits before entering the workforce, Jurado said he would focus on “improving” his self-confidence by gaining more knowledge and skills.

According to ARCDO Director Engr. Florinda Oquindo, partnerships like this will help students “bridge the gap” between research and reality. It will also empower them, she said, to navigate their workforce journey in the future.

“This will be a great opportunity for communication research majors because this will foster a strong connection between the academic institution and ILS, leading to a collaborative research and knowledge-building in the future. Lastly, to spark your interest in the current labor landscape. We believe that young adults are crucial for shaping a better future of work. By participating in Trabahong Trending, you directly contributed to these goals,” she concluded.