DOLE: Brighter prospects for jobseekers with onset of election fever

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sees brighter employment opportunities for jobseekers nationwide with the onset of election fever.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said election activities starting the end of the month are expected to generate more jobs for Filipinos.

“The prospects for better employment both for local and overseas will receive further boost from spending and activities for the national elections in 2010,” Roque said.

He said the jobs to be generated as a result of election activities are expected to rein in the unemployment rate.

“Employment prospects for Filipino workers will offset job losses that may arise in the manufacturing sector that may be affected by contraction in exports,” Roque said, adding that joblessness in the manufacturing sector would have minimal impact on the overall employment picture as employment in this sector constitutes only 8.3 percent of the total 35.5 million employed persons in the country.

The labor secretary said DOLE expects the improvement in employment level to continue until next year with soon-to-be implemented government programs.

“The employment picture in the country in 2010 is seen to be better than this year as the government has already set in place measures to sustain the economic resiliency program (ERP) to enable the country to take advantage of the projected global economic rebound in 2010,” he said.

Roque said the government is preparing to implement the so-called reloading economic acceleration program (REAP) or the “new ERP for 2010 and beyond.” –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)