Manila Philippines – To minimize unemployment woes, Quezon City (QC) authorities advised students to pursue vocational courses that provide greater opportunities for employment as tuition fees for four or five-year college degrees continue to rise.

Mayor Herbert Bautista explained that every year, millions of college graduates end up being unemployed or underemployed simply due to the lack of job opportunities related to the courses they have finished.

“Every year our colleges and universities are producing millions of graduates who simply end up among the unemployed because their courses are incompatible with what jobs are available. Sad to say they also lack marketable skills that would have given them an edge,’’ Bautista said.

He pointed out that many graduates of four-year or even five-year courses end up being clerks while others holding degrees of intellectual sounding courses end up being service crews of fast food chains.

With today’s wages, Bautista added that that it will take years of backbreaking hard work before the employees can earn back what their parents spent for their college education.

Joel Villanueva director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has actively promoted the “ladderized” form of education in the country to encourage the youth to take technical courses and be competitive in the global job community.

Under the system, a high school graduate may take short technical studies in welding, midwifery, bartending and other similar courses where their skills may be put to use after graduation.

A computer technician for example may eventually pursue a more extensive degree in the field of computer once he has saved enough money to finance his education.

Bautista noted that a survey will most likely reveal that the country has one of the highest number of degree holders forced to work as security guards, waiters, waitresses and service crews.