DOLE: Demand high for construction workers in PHL, abroad

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday encouraged high school students to take training courses in construction as there is a high demand for workers in that field, both in the local and international market.

In a news release, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said: “Salaries of construction workers can even go up as high as P50,000 for highly-trained workers."

"Meanwhile, tuition for courses related to construction only cost about P3,000 to P15,000, depending on the duration and type of training,” she said.

The DOLE, in its "Project JobsFit: DOLE 2020 Vision," noted that construction had a tremendous job-generating potential, Baldoz said.

Citing a report of the DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment (BLE), she said Filipino construction workers earn P13,000 to 40,000 per month.

"Some of these jobs which only require minimum training cost but guarantee a return of high income are CAD operators, electricians, and metal fabrication Technicians,” she said.

The BLE said some computer schools offer construction-related 48- to 60-hour courses like AUTO CAD from P4,500 to P5,600 per course.

An entry-level CAD operator earns P10,000 to P24,000 per month, plus allowances and other incentives.

The DOLE explained that CAD operators are in demand because architectural and engineering design are now mostly translated into detailed CAD drawings.

Electricians

Meanwhile, the DOLE also noted that electricians are highly in demand not only in the Philippines but abroad.

The training cost for electricians ranges from P3,000 to P5,000 in public technical-vocational schools, it said.

An entry level salary for electricians ranges from P8,000 to P12,000 per month and may even go up to P15,000 per month for those highly-trained and experienced electricians.

“Among all occupations in the construction industry, Filipino electricians are highly in demand whether here or abroad due to their impeccable expertise in electronic wiring and maintenance of equipment, appliances, apparatus, and fixtures," Baldoz said.

Baldoz also said high school graduates who are interested in becoming welders or metal fabrication technicians earning P8,000 up to P20,000 monthly, can avail of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute Scholarship Grant.

“In the overseas market, Filipino welders are highly-in-demand and are among the top occupations with the highest recorded deployment in the construction industry," she said.

Technical, vocational training

Baldoz said technical and vocational training has been a reliable engine for creating opportunities for jobseekers.

“Vocational-technical training offers the fastest turnaround from classroom to workplace, from new skills to paychecks,” Baldoz noted.

The other in-demand occupations within the construction industry are: heavy equipment mechanic and operator; computer technician; pipe layer; steam fitter; rigger; machinist; and mason.

Source: GMA News