SENIOR high school graduates have better chances of getting employment when provided with comprehensive training and skills development opportunities, the Philippine Business for Education said.

“Senior high school graduates are employable, given the right training and workplace exposure. We just need to develop better mechanisms for government, industry, and academe to work together so we can connect school and work,” PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas said.

The Department of Labor and Employment said that at least 180,000 local jobs are open for high school graduates. It noted the employers’ concerns about the skill readiness of SHS graduates, prompting a recommendation for a more targeted curriculum to develop strand-specific competencies for work.

“To tackle unemployment and underemployment issues among the youth, we have been actively pushing for private sectors, schools, and the government to collaborate and invest in youth training initiatives,” Raagas said.

PBEd’s workforce development program, implemented with the support of USAID–YouthWorks PH, shows that out of 294 K-12 graduates who underwent the work-based training, 222 have successfully secured employment, resulting in an overall employment rate of 76 percent.

Raagas said that companies who hired K-12 graduates are in the sectors of construction, food and beverage services, and food processing.

“Let’s strive to create a more inclusive and productive workforce by unlocking the potential of senior high school graduates. We urge more companies to put their skin in the game by opening their doors to training our youth and making skills-based hiring the norm,” she added.

YouthWorks PH follows a training model that encompasses technical-vocational training, soft skills development and apprenticeship enabling the youth to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, making them well-rounded and adaptable employees. Under this initiative, PBEd engages with employers to provide work-based training opportunities for the youth to ensure that the skills learned by trainees match the needs of the company.

“Through our partnership with the private sector, we’re assured that the training provided aligns with the needs of industries, helping us create a pool of highly-skilled trainees who are readily absorbed for in-demand and hard-to-fill positions,” Raagas added.

YouthWorks PH operates across multiple sites throughout the country, including Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, GenSan, Zamboanga, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

Aside from free skills training, young individuals receive wraparound support to facilitate connectivity for those doing remote learning, and 75 percent of the minimum wage within their area as an allowance during their work-based training.