Multi-skilled workers to tackle unemployment – TESDA chief

March 18, 2024

To further support improving employment rates in the country, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is encouraging more Filipinos to take up technical vocational education and training (TVET) to learn more skills.

In a statement, TESDA Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu welcomed the decrease in the country’s unemployment rate and emphasized that the government is committed to ramping up its efforts to continue addressing unemployment, especially by providing upskilling training programs to seasonal workers.

Secretary Mangudadatu explained that being a multi-skilled worker can increase the chances of a jobseeker to land jobs and be more productive. He added that multi-skilled workers can fill various roles, which can be particularly beneficial in industries where demands for skills may vary depending on the season.

“Multi-skilled workers can play a crucial role in addressing unemployment by increasing employability, creating job opportunities, meeting diverse employer needs, addressing skills gaps, supporting training and education programs, and contributing to economic growth,” Secretary Mangudadatu said.

Depending on their qualifications, workers who have multiple skills will also have to ability to do jobs in different industry sectors, and will be more resilient in the event of unexpected layoffs and downsizing.

In its January 2024 Labor Force Participation Survey, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the number of unemployed Filipinos went down to 2.15 million in January this year from the 2.38 million recorded in the same month last year.

Statistics from the PSA likewise showed the country’s unemployment rate and labor force participation dipped slightly during the holiday season in 2023 but later increased in January 2024.

TESDA, as the government agency mandated in the provision of upskilling and reskilling of the Filipino workforce, continues to push programs to enhance workers' skills through appropriate training in line with the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESD) 2023-2028.

The agency is also pursuing innovations in response to the growing demand for workers in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Construction, Automotive, and Agriculture sectors among others.

“We are collaborating with various entities for the enhanced implementation of tech-voc training in the country. By collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, TESDA can better fulfill its mandate of providing accessible, quality, and relevant TVET programs for sustainable socio-economic development,” the TESDA chief said.

Those individuals who want to take TESDA courses can register through bsrs.tesda.gov.ph or go to the nearest TESDA office in their area. They can also enroll in the TESDA Online Program through the e-tesda.gov.ph for free online courses.