The city government is intensifying efforts to develop a skilled labor pool to meet growing domestic and international workforce demands, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) head Kathleen Kate Sorilla said Thursday.

During a City Information Office forum, Sorilla discussed PESO’s multipronged approach to workforce development, which achieved an 84.75 percent placement rate by securing jobs for more than 14,000 applicants in 2024.

“With increasing global demand for technical skills, we’re working closely with educational institutions to align training programs with industry requirements,” she said, addressing current challenges with job-skills mismatches among graduates.

The office has implemented targeted solutions, including upskilling programs and a special student employment initiative with the Department of Labor and Employment.

The youth employment program offers participants aged 15 years to 30 years 20 days of government service experience at the City Hall, serving as both training and potential career pathway.

Recent job fairs, including a March 18 event that drew hundreds of applicants, demonstrate the program’s growing impact.

PESO said it continues to expand partnerships with technical schools and international recruitment agencies to address specific skill shortages in the healthcare, construction, and information technology sectors. (PNA)