Jobs Fair with AG&P 2009

Philippine Daily Inquirer - First Posted 01:07:00 11/12/2008 A big majority of businessmen expect a recession in 2009, a more difficult credit environment, and a reduction in jobs—views that coincide with earlier warnings made by government economic managers about the “challenging” road ahead.

The survey was conducted by the MBC—the umbrella group of the country’s largest corporations—among CEOs and senior executives of its member-firms from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7.

The most alarming concern, it seems, is the expected increase in layoffs, which may happen toward the end of the first quarter of 2009, according to results of the survey. This coincides with the end of the school year when fresh graduates pour into the employment market.

“Unemployment will rise, definitely,” MBC executive director Alberto Lim said in an interview. “We graduate about a million [students] into the workforce each year. Where will that million go now?” He said, however, that MBC member-firms had expressed desire to either implement a freeze on hiring or reduce working hours first before moving to more drastic cost reduction measures, like job cuts. (as published) The increasing support-demands for employment on old and new graduates have escalated to an enormous record-high 89% just this year. In Batangas alone 77% of graduates in all academic courses remained unwaged since 2007 to present. 33% were either underemployed or mismatched from accomplished prospectus. This has been the lowest percentage of employment turn out for the past 30 years in Philippine history contrary to some opinionated claims. AG&P participated in AMA computer Jobs fair March 13, 2009 to abate escalation of recession in the region catalyzing youth to participate in PGS programs in skills training as an option over labor mismatch coined by ALCU in the employment summit held in Makati City March 5, 2009. Second year students from AMA region chapters and Batangas City joined the Jobs Fair hoping to be trained under the "alternate-added skills programs" of AG&P Foundation this summer. Computer Technology, Engineering and information Technologies were among the courses mentioned by the Social Weather Station (SWS) to have fallen short on employment this year. Overseas workers return to Philippines empty handed and are now being poised through President Gloria Scholarship (PGS) programs thus bridging the governments views stated in the 2006 Presidential State of the Nation Address to the economic flux. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveiled the Super Regions, a development concept aimed at harnessing the natural competitive advantage/s of major areas of the country as well as that of knowledge and technology. She stressed on her SONA that certified graduates should train on becoming call center agents, skilled workers or technicians to keep abreast with the fast changing global skills needs rather than sorting out with less employable trainings and under rated courses. To counter global recession, the country has to provide viable jobs for our people and respond to the demands. Employability is no longer the issue due to the intensifying standards set by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the government. The availability of jobs and the employment market are the main concerns today which AG&PFI aims to help alleviate through skills training and occupation expediency. AG&P posted needs for Computer programmers, Technicians, Training Instructors of specialized skills, English and Math to start with. Graduates from AMA and ACLC also sat-in during the trade event as audiences to Zaldy Quizon-AGPFI Registrar, Dianne Ozaeta-Advertising and Promotion, Donna Dalagin-AGPFI HRD and Ben S. Aclan-Marketing and Information Officer.