DOLE bares highest paying jobs; advises students to defy 'trending' and go for in-demand courses
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday
bared the occupations that yield the highest monthly wage rates in the
Philippines over the last five years and immediately called on high
school students, whether they intend to pursue technical or vocational
or college education, to go for courses that the labor market demands.
"I also advice them to refrain from choosing courses based on what's in
vogue or fashionable, or, to use the popular social lingo of the youth,
what's "trending" and popular. Just because a neighbor's son or
daughter will take up this or that course does not mean you should
follow suit," Baldoz said.
She issued the statement as the government anticipates the thousands of
high school students about to graduate this academic year, many of whom
dream to continue to college or university and join the labor market
after.
"Graduating high school students, and the seniors following them should
realize this early the significance of making wise and excellent career
decisions. They themselves can help resolve the jobs and skills
mismatch problem by pursuing courses and skills that would easily fit
them into jobs or entrepreneurship opportunities in the labor market,"
Baldoz explained.
“Some of these courses may be less popular and less considered but pay the highest salaries," Baldoz noted.
Citing the latest study of the Bureau of Local Employment, Baldoz said
in the top ten of the high-paying jobs in the Philippines are those
occupations in aviation, banking and finance, business process
outsourcing, creative industries, cyber services, manufacturing, and
mining.
"An art director, for example, which is under creative industries, can
receive a corresponding median salary of P69,286 a month, while a
geologist's salary is P64,889 a month on the average," said the labor
and employment chief.
In the BLE list, an aircraft pilot, a navigator, and a flight engineer
could receive as high as P57,789 a month salary; mining engineer and
metallurgical engineer, P55,638 a month; and a computer programmer,
P43,573 per month.
Rounding up the top ten high paying positions are for systems analyst
and systems designer, P42,112 per month; production supervisor and
general foreman, P36,133 a month; actuarian, with P35,480 per month;
call center representative/customer service associate, P35,424 a month;
and statistician, P35,010 monthly.
“For example, students may opt to take computer science and
technology-related courses for them to become computer programmers, or
systems analysts, and systems designers. These careers involve writing
specifications required in applications and using programming computer
languages and development tools to design, build, test, implement, and
support games and applications. Others may also attend short courses on
technological developments and new software packages,” she said.
She also explained that if students are adept in Mathematics and
Economics, and eyeing administrative work, they may consider a path
towards becoming actuarians or statisticians. These occupations require
technical skills to evaluate business risks and uncertainties, to assess
financial consequences of those risks, and to provide expert advice.
Most actuarians and statisticians usually work in offices doing desk
work. However, opportunities for travel are aplenty, especially in
occasions when researches and surveys needed to be conducted.
The BLE report stated that the top ten occupations have been determined
through the identification of median monthly basic pay and median
monthly allowances of time-rate workers on full-time basis in
non-agricultural establishments employing at least 20 persons in 65
industry groups within the Philippines.
"The salaries identified, along with the occupations listed, are not
entry-level wages. The compensation are obtained after years of work
experience and after attaining some level of competency, as most
employers in the identified industries would require. Also, occupants of
these high-paying positions need to have bachelor’s degrees related to
the field, at the very least," the study emphasized.
"As for other positions in cyber-services, business process
outsourcing, and manufacturing companies, college degree is not an
essential requirement. Completion of high school diploma coupled with
years of experience is sufficient," the study added.
The BLE said the Filipino workforce today is composed of young,
creative, and dynamic people who can work from anywhere anytime and
these qualities may be put into best use with a career as an art
director, or an aircraft pilot.
For those who may not be able to enrol in college, Baldoz urged
students to look into technical-vocational courses that may lead to a
career, for example, as general foreman or as call center
representative.
Such jobs, according to the BLE study, typically requires only a high
school diploma as a minimum requirement. For workers wanting to get such
jobs, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
offers scholarship-based programs that range from three to six months
training period in construction and contact center training.
SOURCE
