The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has raised concerns over persistent unemployment and a growing mismatch between graduates’ skills and industry needs in the Philippines.
In a seminar held on August 13, 2025, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis stressed that these challenges should not be taken lightly. She presented data comparing the demographics of unemployed college graduates in 2024 and 2025.
“The problem goes beyond unemployment numbers. Even when job opportunities exist, there is a persistent mismatch between available jobs and graduates' skills,” she said, while presenting statistics from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which reported that only 3,364 out of 25,876 job seekers were hired during the nationwide job fairs held in January 2025.
Agrupis noted that most graduates ended up in low-skilled roles that do not require a college degree, highlighting the disconnect between education and employment.
She also shared figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), showing that underemployment remains relatively low—the lowest since December 2025—but reflects deeper structural issues in the labor market.
She emphasized that graduates are struggling to secure jobs aligned with their qualifications, while industries are facing shortages of skilled workers.
Agrupis urged CHED and other relevant agencies to ensure that available jobs better match graduates’ skills, so that unemployment figures reflect meaningful and productive employment.
She added that this is the reason CHED is advancing reforms that place innovation and equity at the core of Philippine higher education.
“Our goal is to make education not just a ticket to opportunity, but a guarantee of meaningful and sustainable employment for all graduates,“ she added.
