Intended to be an evidence-based policy support for Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) in its continued quest to lower youth unemployment in the Philippines, this issue paper embodies a “choice-problem” type of policy analysis which puts utmost emphasis on both problem analysis and solution analysis.

IOn the one side, the problem analysis reveals various causes and effects of high youth unemployment in the country. Per the problem structuring, there are at least 14 possible causes identified, of which 8 are deemed plausible causes based from review of relevant literature and author’s own previous studies. From the vantage point of BLE, six (6) out of the 8 plausible causes are considered actionable causes. Among the six (6) actionable causes, the policy analysis focuses on SWT and job-skills mismatch. Meanwhile, effects of high youth unemployment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY in the Philippines include, but not limited to the following: hampered economic growth; persistence of poverty and inequality; persistence of unemployment; low returns to human capital investment; social exclusion; and mental health scarring.

IOn the other side, solution analysis revolves around the evaluation of the identified/formulated policy alternatives being proposed for BLE’s consideration: (1) continue JobStart implementation (status quo or no action alternative); (2) terminate implementation of JobStart Program and replace it with Enterprise-led Learning Networks (ELLN); and (3) continue implementing JobStart and then introduce ELLN as a complementary program..

Click Here to Download Full Issue Paper

Title: ADDRESSING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES: A policy analysis of JobStart and Enterprise-led Learning Networks (ELLN)

Researcher: John Emmanuel B. Villanueva