NATIONAL Economic Development Authority (Neda)-Davao chief economic specialist Mario Realista said exposing senior high school to more career trainings can help lower unemployment rate in the country.

Realista added the Department of Education might want to reassess its K to 12 basic educational program to ensure that the employment gap between the academe and the industry will be addressed.

He said that through these career programs, students can have an idea as to where to land a job, thus creating lesser jobless youth.

Realista said unemployment rate in the country went down to 5.3 percent in January 2018, the lowest since 2009.

Neda records show the unemployment rate of 5.3 percent this year is lower compared in 2016 with 5.5 percent, and 5.7 percent in 2017.

“With the current unemployment rate which improved, this is behind the 5.1 to 5.4 percent target set in 2017,” Realista said on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 during the 2018 Mindanao Economic Convention at University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep), Obrero Campus, Davao City.

“On the bright side, undermployment rate outside the area of the National Capital Region continues to decrease and is at 17.1 percent in 2017 from 19.7 percent in 2016, exceeding the target of 18.3 to 20.3 percent of the year,” Realista said. (GAD)