As coronavirus lockdowns forced businesses to close down and left millions of Filipinos unemployed, job prospects are expected to tighten for the 2nd half of 2020, a JobStreet study showed.

JobStreet surveyed 2,569 job candidates from May 13 to June 1 for its COVID-19 job report, and from May 15 to 27 for 314 hirers. The report was released on Wednesday, September 2.

JobStreet found that 55% of firms surveyed either reduced their workforce, temporarily laid off staff, or froze hiring. Around 38% had to suspend salary increases as well as reduce bonuses and salaries.

There was also a considerable 12% drop in prospective hiring. Only 80% of organizations surveyed are expecting to hire in the 2nd half of 2020, from 92% that hired in the 1st half.

JobStreet country manager Philip Gioca said on Wednesday that this would mean tighter competition among job seekers.

Despite the hiring freeze, 3 in 4 firms feel positive for their organizations and industries in the future.

Of those planning to hire, JobStreet said prospective postings are a healthy and heterogenous mix. Top applicant backgrounds are accounting (33%), sales, customer service, and business development (31%), and information technology (26%).

Hirers are also looking for job candidates for junior and entry-level jobs, which JobStreet noted as a “positive outlook” for the younger workforce.

Government career fair

Two in 5 job candidates are actively looking for work, according to the report.

Gioca said the business process outsourcing industry still has the most job ads on JobStreet, followed by the government.

For the first time, the government will hold its job fair fully online, with the Civil Service Commission partnering with JobStreet.

The career fair will run from September 14 to 18, offering over 10,000 government positions from 700 agencies nationwide.

Interested applicants may visit onlinejobfair.jobstreet.com.ph, download the personal data sheet which would serve as their resumé, and upload it on the same page. After that, they can view the participating agencies and choose their preferred postings.

Gioca said some job postings require civil service eligibility while others do not.

The government has close to 178,000 unfilled positions, according to the Department of Budget and Management’s staffing summary. Currently, the government employs over 1.6 million people nationwide. – Rappler.com