EDITORIAL - It’s high time to spread job opportunities to rural areas

There is a drop in the unemployment rate in January in Central Visayas, according to the regional office of Department of Labor and Employment. This means that there are many who were hired in the first month of the year in different industries in the business sector in the region compared to the same period in 2018.

Of course, this is certainly a piece of good news, which only means employment opportunities in the region, especially in Metro Cebu, are rising. And it really helps that there is still a steady flow of investments.

DOLE regional director Salome Siaton said Central Visayas’ employment rate hiked by 0.6 percent in January compared to the figure in the same period last year. Those being hired also included foreign nationals.

Employment events have also contributed to the decrease in unemployment as DOLE has partnered with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), local government units and private companies in holding job fairs.

The decrease in unemployment is also due largely to the improved “quality of jobs.” “Decline in unemployment rate indicates improved quality of jobs,” Siaton was quoted by The FREEMAN as saying.  “Decent jobs and livelihood opportunities are offered to those seeking jobs,”

While we hope this trend will continue as the economy maintains its growth, it is sad that job openings are only sidelined in urban areas. Employment opportunities in rural areas remain slim and jobs are mostly produced in the agriculture sector.

This is something that the government should address. We long for the day when those in the rural areas no longer have to leave their families behind and migrate to the cities for greener pastures.