Philippine economy failing to create sufficient jobs for youth, Ibon warns

MANILA — The Ibon Foundation has attributed the high unemployment rate among Filipino youth to fundamental weaknesses in the country's economic structure rather than a lack of qualified workers. The research organization cited the economy's "weak" industrial base as a primary constraint limiting the creation of stable, productive, and better-compensated jobs. According to Ibon analysts, many young Filipinos remain jobless because the underlying economic foundations are insufficient to absorb the labor force entering the market. The assessment highlights a critical disconnect between workforce capacity and available employment opportunities in the country. The foundation's analysis emerges amid ongoing debates over higher education reform, with Ibon questioning whether education policy changes adequately address the root causes of youth unemployment. The think tank's position suggests that restructuring the education system alone cannot resolve employment challenges without corresponding improvements to the country's industrial and economic base.