Photo from Philippine Business for Education/MANILA BULLETIN
By Hannah Nicol
The Quezon City local government and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) launched the "JobNext" program to boost the employability for young Filipinos in the city on Monday, June 26.
JobsNext is an initiative of PBEd in partnership with Citi Foundation, and supported by the Quezon City government, with an investment of P6-million to provide various training programs and equip Quezon City residents, aged 18 to 25 years old, with the necessary skills for employment in the future.
The training programs will be provided by PBEd's development partners from Microsoft, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foundation, Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of Visually Impaired (ATRIEV), Amazon to address the demands of emerging industries, including information and communications technology, data analytics, software development, cybersecurity, and web services.
“We see a high demand for tech skills now more than ever,” Quezon City Mayor Joy
Belmonte shared.
“The JobsNext program will not only give hope to our youth but also empower them. We must ensure that they have access to necessary tools, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive in the workforce.” she added.
She also said that the city government is committed to invest in the development of the youth and in providing them with the competencies and skills required to address the changing demands of the future.
In a 2022 report co-authored by LinkedIn and the Asian Development Bank titled "Digital Jobs and Digital Skills: A Shifting Landscape in Asia and the Pacific," 64 percent of companies in the region claimed that the demand for tech expertise had greatly increased in the last five years.
The same report showed that six of the 10 employees hired were required to have basic digital skills such as proficiency with collaboration tools or basic internet skills as companies implement automated workflows to increase the efficiency of their operations.
“Demand for digital skills continues to grow as technological advancements shape business models and transform workplaces. Our goal in PBEd is to equip Filipino youth with skills that will help them adapt and succeed in future jobs. This would not be possible without the support of the various local government units,” PBEd’s Executive Director Justine Raagas said during the launching ceremony at the Quezon City Hall.
The City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will recruit potential JobsNext trainees and refer them to programs that match their preferred skills.
To support the trainees, Quezon City will provide scholarship grants through its Youth Development Office.
“Our efforts have been focused on improving economic and employment opportunities for young Filipinos through our Pathways to Progress initiative. We believe in the talent and potential of the Filipino youth, and we want to empower them through this program and other similar initiatives to facilitate a better future for them,” Citi Philippines CEO Paul Favila said.
BPEd is a nonprofit organization which advocates for the improvement of teaching quality, education, and workforce development.
Citi Foundation, a private foundation that, works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world.