Filipino engineers in high demand — jobsdb
ENGINEERS are highly in demand, and graduates joining the labor force this year are fortunate because the economy is generating many other career opportunities, according to the chief executive officer of the online placement firm jobsDB.
“I’m very excited about the Philippines,” said Adrian Chng, group CEO of jobsDB, which is based in Hong Kong and operates in several countries in Asia, including the Philippines.
He added that with the economy on an upward trajectory and the Internet penetration increasing, more and more job opportunities are being generated.
That should be welcome news for the 530,000 Filipinos who will be graduating this month and joining the labor force. Some economists believe that they face stiff challenges because unemployment and underemployment rates remain high, despite the robust 6.6 percent economic growth posted last year.
But the high jobless rate does not seem to bother Chng, who insists that there are plenty of job opportunities for Filipinos here and abroad.
Globally, the demand for engineers continues to outstrip supply, and Filipinos are recognized as some of the most qualified and competent workers in that field, Chng explained.
He added that engineers are needed for practically everything, from manufacturing to developing software.
In general, Filipino workers are in demand not only because of their grasp of the English language but also because they have an excellent work ethic, Chng said.
Recently, jobsDB Philippines “refreshed” its brand, where it also announced that there were some 60,000 jobs available in the country. The relaunch event unveiled new website features and mobile phone applications designed to make it easier for job seekers to find work.
Sheryll Tiburcio, acting country manager of jobsDB Philippines, said that of the total job openings, about 22,000 were in information technology and engineering.
She added that 17,000 were in sales and customer relations management, which include the business process outsourcing ( BPO) industry, and another 8,000 or so job openings were for human relations and administration.
Tiburcio also said that about 25,000 companies posted job openings on the jobDB website, and that there were also 2.1 million resumes uploaded to their system by jobseekers in the Philippines.
Globally in demand
One drawback for the Philippines was that its engineers and other workers were in demand in many other countries as well, Chng said.
Also, the jobsDB research has shown that Filipinos tend to look for jobs overseas more than other Asians, he added.
But if the economy continues to remain strong, more Filipino workers are likely to return because other economies, particularly Hong Kong and Singapore, are not likely to have the same rapid rate of economic growth as the Philippines, he explained.
Chng said that jobsDB was all about serving jobseekers, but a large part of its value was also aimed at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grow their businesses.
He explained that unlike large corporations that have vast recruitment capabilities, SMEs perform the human resource functions mostly on their own and that limits their reach and ability to fill job openings. The services that jobsDB provide not only make it easier for them to look for qualified people but also cost effective.
About 99.7 percent of all registered companies are classified by the Department of Trade and Industry as micro, small and medium enterprises, or MSMEs.
Given the sheer number of MSMEs, anything that helps them grow will naturally be good for the economy in general, and a healthy business would also translate into more career opportunities for job seekers, Chng explained.
Career advice
Chng offered some advice to jobseekers.
“First, passion and attitude count,” he said. To increase the likelihood of success, jobseekers should prioritize looking for the kind of work that they can feel passionate about.
He added that firms also look at a job applicant’s values and personalities as much as they consider the educational background, skills set and other technical qualifications of candidates.
Also, Chng said that jobseekers should collect career experiences. For many, the first job will not likely be the last. And having a number of experiences prepare workers for the type of work that they will eventually have.
Finally, Chng said that job seekers should be bold and assertive.
There may be good opportunities, but he said that job seekers should still go out there and get them.