The Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera said the region’s employment feature is greatly improving with almost all sectors back on track.
DOLE-Cordillera Director Nathaniel Lacambra said unemployment rate in the region went down to 5.4 percent in 2021 from 45 percent in 2020, the year the pandemic started.
“Gradually, our employment status has improved. It is almost close to normal except for a few who have not resumed operation like the night establishments,” he said.
He added while some establishments end the day’s operation earlier than they used to before the pandemic, “many have gone back to work. But because of the shorter operating hours, they need fewer workers.”
Baguio City’s Alert Level 1 status is beneficial not only for the government but also for individual workers.
The Philippine Statistics Authority-Cordillera during the regional economic performance report last week stated the region’s economic performance improved, posting a gross regional domestic product of 7.5 percent in 2021.
The industry sector posted the fastest growth at 16.3 percent and services logged a 65.5 percent share in the increase.
Lacambra said 34 employers joined the regional jobs and livelihood fair in Baguio City last May 1 to offer over 10,432 vacancies for local and foreign job placements.
He said 1,574 applicants registered during the activity.
Twenty-two were hired on the spot and 762 nearly got hired and were required to undergo further screening.
Marvie Fulgencio, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board secretary, said 1.25 million people aged 15 years old and above are of employable age, 798,777 of whom or 63.8 percent are already working. – PNA
