CALOOCAN  2nd District Representative Edgar Erice has filed a measure seeking to address the persistent mismatch between education and labor market demands by institutionalizing a national framework that directly links schools, students, and industries.

Erice said his House Bill No. 5403, or the proposed Education to Employment Act of 2025, aims to ensure that graduates acquire practical skills and competencies aligned with the real needs of employers, thereby reducing youth unemployment and underemployment.

“Despite increased access to tertiary and technical education, many graduates remain jobless or underemployed. At the same time, industries report a shortage of skilled and job-ready workers,” Erice said in his explanatory note.

“This disconnect between what our schools teach and what industries need has hindered both national development and individual progress,” he added.

Under the measure, a National Education to Employment Council (NEEC) will be created to coordinate efforts among the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and private sector representatives.

The NEEC will be tasked to develop and update a National Education-to-Employment Roadmap every three years, identify priority industries and emerging sectors by region, and recommend curriculum updates as well as incentives for companies that hire local graduates.

At the local level, Local Industry-Academe Employment Councils will be established in every province and city.

Each council, chaired by the local chief executive, will include education and industry representatives who will analyze local job trends, recommend curriculum adjustments, and help coordinate internships, apprenticeships, and job placements.

To strengthen school-to-work transitions, the bill mandates all senior high schools, colleges, and vocational institutions to partner with local industries for mandatory work immersion or on-the-job training aligned with students’ chosen fields.

Private companies that provide training or employment for at least 10 graduates per year may qualify for tax deductions of up to 100% of training expenses, priority access to government employment programs, and certification as Youth-Friendly Employers.