9 of 10 Pinoys see a more challenging job market amid pandemic–linkedin

NEARLY a year after the government implemented lockdowns to control the spread of Covid-19, Filipinos are faced with more challenging job market opportunities, according to Linkedin.

In a news statement, Linkedin said data from its Opportunity Index 2021 showed nearly nine in 10 Filipinos feel they have been negatively impacted by Covid-19, citing job insecurity, reduced working hours and pay.

Linkedin said this could have led to a cautiously optimistic outlook among Filipinos, with three in four believing that the economic situation in the country has worsened.

“About a year on since Covid-19 hit us, many continue to struggle from job loss and job instability. Yet it is heartening to see that people have also turned their focus towards helping the community,” said Feon Ang, vice president, Talent and Learning Solutions, APAC, Linkedin.

Data showed 53 percent of Filipinos considered job security as their most desired opportunity this year. However, they have also started looking for new opportunities to help others within the community.

Linkedin said 51 percent looked at providing safety support items such as sanitizer and masks to others within the community and 32 percent offered to mentor others to gain opportunities.

Filipino workers also explored opportunities to learn soft skills such as effective communication, creative thinking, and leadership. These were sought after skills by millennials.

However, learning opportunities for hard skills such as business analytics, sales, and marketing were also sought after by millennials and Gen Zs.

Working girls

THE survey data also showed women, especially working mothers, are facing more significant obstacles under the current setup compared to men.

Close to half or 47 percent of working mothers said they were struggling to balance their work and household responsibilities. Around 42 percent said their duties at home are getting in the way of their career development.

Despite the challenges, Linkedin data showed women are prepared to work hard but would like equal access to opportunities as men.

Data showed 88 percent of women are prepared to work hard and 85 percent would like equal opportunities as men. For women, these are the most important aspects to get ahead in life.

The results also showed that 22 percent of female professionals said they had fewer career advancement opportunities and 14 percent claimed they were paid less than men in their profession.

Linkedin noted that “half of working women in the Philippines have experienced that their gender played a role in missing out on opportunities, promotion, and pay.”

The data also showed 74 percent of women in the country think that gender equality is an important value for a fair society, while 31 percent said gender equality is impossible to achieve in the Philippines.

“The Philippine work force has taken a hit due to Covid-19 across the board, women included. The lack of time is the top barrier for women today—likely due to having to juggle remote working and family responsibilities. We also know that women are seeking to get ahead in life, and want equal access to opportunity as men,” Ang said.

“As a society, we need to start changing our societal perceptions on gender. In our organizations, too, we need to level the playing field for women. When we succeed, the economy and our organizations succeed as well,” she added.