Labor chief urges tech-savvy students to help solve Phl’s skills mismatch problem

MANILA, Philippines – Students who think computer-gaming or being tech-savvy is just for pastime and cannot be a career, should think again.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday urged tech-savvy students to consider computer-based courses and help solve the country’s skills mismatch problem.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said creative jobs such as web content writers, virtual assistants, game designers and application developers can be a productive career for many young students.

“If they are into administrative and organizational work, they may consider a path towards becoming a virtual assistant who provides online creative and/or technical services to clients, or a web content writer if they have the passion for online research, writing, and editing,” Baldoz said.

“With the invention of specialized applications and software, especially the fast-paced evolution of gadgets and the rise of social networking games, the demand for these creative professions is expected to boom in the next years,” Baldoz added.

According to Baldoz, virtual industries have been identified to be among the emerging sectors where employment opportunities are seen to flourish in the next 10 years.

She then urged students to consider Computer Science and technology-related courses for them to become application developers and game designers.

The labor chief said such careers involve writing specifications required in applications and using programming computer languages and development tools to design, build, test, implement, and support games and applications. Others may also attend in short courses on technological developments and new software packages.

Those computer-based jobs in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry have starting pays ranging from P12,000 to P20,000.

Computer-based skills, she said, are also in-demand in a wide range of business sectors with the increasing need for specialized software developers and designers who can write programs according to the company’s specifications.

“Salaries may range up to P50,000 for successful and experienced designers and developers,” she pointed out.

Baldoz further encourage young students to check the DOLE’s career guidance services so they could make good career decisions that will ease up the problem of jobs and skills mismatch. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)