Youth unemployment has risen dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the Philippines and Bangsamoro Region. According to statistics, the Bangsamoro Region has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 6.6% and the lowest employment rate at 95.4%. Most of the unemployed are youth. Increasing access to job opportunities through skills training, job placement programs, and strengthened communication can help address the problem of youth unemployment in the region.

1. MP ATTY. MAISARA C. DANDAMUN-LATIPH
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The number of unemployed youth has risen dramatically especially
the time of the CoViD-19 pandemic. They have long faced unemploy-
ment in the Philippines and in the Bangsamoro Region and their num-
bers are now reaching a record high.
Increasing youth access job opportunities through strengthened
communication, youth skills preparation and job placement program
will help address the problem of youth unemployment
KEY MESSAGES
EVIDENCE
There are many Bangsamoro youths who, despite being equipped
with skills and having the right qualifications, are still unemployed due
to lack of access to and information on job opportunities. The youths
have become discouraged or choose to find jobs outside Bangsamoro
while others turn to armed rebel groups or commit illegal or immoral
acts.
Youth unemployment is one of the principal social and economic
challenges of in the BARMM region and entire the Philippines.
JUSTIFICATION
All programs for the Bangsamoro youth will be published in all communication
and media channels so that all qualified youth can have a chance to join or apply for
participation in the programs.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Increasing Youth Access to
Job Opportunities
YOUTH POLICY
BRIEF
Samanodin L. Nasser
Youth Sectoral Representative
Office of MP Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-latiph
CONDUCT JOB FAIRS
The Bangsamoro must introduce more well-publicized and com-
prehensive job fairs for the youths by inviting government agen-
cies, private companies and local government units to partici-
pate. These will give opportunity for the Bangsamoro youths to
apply for vacancies and be hired on-the-spot by companies
within and outside of the Bangsamoro region.
ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE VOCATIONAL JOBS
Other than the usual jobs, the Bangsamoro government must en-
courage and promote vocational jobs where the youths can focus
their passion. The youths should have a variety of vocational job
options they find interesting and ready to apply their skills. Fur-
thermore, by promoting vocational jobs, out-of-school youths
can have more chances of being hired.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Give more opportunities to the youths who are skilled and edu-
cated so they will not be tempted to turn to armed rebel groups
because of lack of employment opportunities. Start with the con-
sultations and data gathering about the unemployed youth who
are skilled/educated and ready, and give them a chance to work
with passion.
ENCOURAGE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING HIRING
Public and private organizations must be encouraged to hire stu-
dents who are with them through On-the-Job Training (OJT).
This will help address the problem of unemployed graduates.
POSTING OF JOB OPENINGS IN
BULLETIN BOARDS
All programs and job opportunities in the Bangsamoro govern-
ment and private sector must be posted in public places that are
visible to the general public such as the bulletin boards in
schools/colleges/universities and government offices.
POSTING OF JOB OPENINGS IN GENERAL
CIRCULATIONS
All programs and job opportunities in the Bangsamoro govern-
ment and private sector must be published in government ga-
zettes and general circulation newspapers and magazines.
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN DISSEMINATING
INFORMATION ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES
All programs for the Bangsamoro youth will be published in the
Internet and all social media channels so that qualified youths
can have a fairer chance to join/apply and get accepted/hired in
the programs.
EMPOWERING VOICES

2. EMPOWERING VOICES
MP ATTY. MAISARA C. DANDAMUN-LATIPH
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According to the Philippine Statistic Authority (2019), while 45.2
M or 45,200,000 in the country are economically active, the Bangsam-
oro has the highest rate of unemployment with 6.6% unemployed.
Most of the unemployed are the youth. The Bangsamoro also has the
lowest rate of employment with 95.4% only.
Canlas (2005) also identified three reasons why governments as
well as other policy-making and implementation bodies should priori-
tize the young unemployed over other groups. “First, the youth are
more vulnerable to economic shocks than adults since they have not
yet developed coping mechanisms. Second, unemployment not only
makesyoungpeopleinsecure,italsomakesthemmultipliersofinsecuri-
ty within their families since many rely on multiple income sources to
avoid falling into poverty. Finally, for young people, extended unem-
ployment becomes a lifetime structural problem translating into an in-
creased probability of unemployment or underemployment (in terms
of quality of work) throughout their entire working life." Hence, the
problem of the youth unemployment must be prioritized as this also
contributes to economic prosperity.
Unemployment in the Philippines is a problem that affects the
young in a disproportionate manner since the youth comprises nearly
two-thirds of the total unemployed (Canlas, 2009).
EVIDENCE
RESUME
RESUME
Philippine Statistics Authority
URL: http://www.psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/-
labor-force- survey/title/Employment%20Situation%20in%20Octo-
ber%202019
Jude H. Esguerra (2009). Choosing and assessing local youth unemployment
interventions, ILO Asia- Pacific Working Paper Series.
URL: http://www.apyouthnet.ilo.org/resources/youth-employment-in-the-
philippines/at_download/file1
Canlas and Pardalis (2009). Youth employment in the Philippines, ILO Asia-
Pacific Working Paper Series
REFERENCES