THE SECOND Congressional Committee on Education or EDCOM 2 emphasized the need for a harmonized labor market information system to address job-skills mismatch.

“The labor force and the market demand is very dynamic. In fact, it changes very rapidly with the onset of technology and new skills. In our country we have free tuition fees for both tertiary education and skills production”, EDCOM Co-Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

“If we produce skills that will not be needed by the market today and in the future, then we are wasting government resources. It is imperative to have this mechanism to address the mismatch, and also be able to forecast what the market needs in the next few years”, Gatchalian continued.

A labor market information system provides essential data and insights about labor market outcomes that inform a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, employers, job seekers, and educational institutions.

EDCOM 2 together with the Department of Education, Committee on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, discussed existing labor market information systems and processes currently being utilized by the industry and education agencies.

The Philippine Institute of Development Studies also presented its study which recommended inputs to the Skills Anticipation and Prioritization of Skills Requirements Framework of TESDA, and also provided insights on how agencies should move forward in harmonizing LMIS.