The World is Changing: Thoughts on the Changing Workforce
I am saddened by the recent turn of events that is a result of the global recession:
- A number of Filipino workers in Taiwan had been laid off and are now on the way back to the Philippines.
- TI Philippines, a US company right here in my hometown, has just laid off almost 200 workers and is expected to further reduce their workforce this year.
- Accenture Philippines had also reduced its workforce by 500 workers a few days ago.
- Today, Intel Philippines announced its intention of shutting down their two-decades old plant. This company employs 3,000 workers right now who will all be affected by the shutdown.
Aside from this I’ve ran across a few bloggers and some friends who had confessed about losing their jobs.
photo credit: Erik Charlton
Are we Filipinos too dependent on getting employed?
I believe we do. I have experienced that myself. After I got my degree, the next “good” thing is to get the first job related to my degree. I had been able to do that. I had a good job, but still, is not enough to meet my needs. It’s true, it can answer my personal needs but it does not come to the extent that I am able to save a significant portion of it for emergencies.
I was not alone. I saw my peers give up their jobs in favor of those higher paying overseas jobs. I saw people living a better life and enjoying an upgraded lifestyle. For those who are not keen on saving much, it would last them until the day when they decide to retire.
But workplaces change and the 80s is a decade when company retrenchments had happened. It becomes worse as crisis happens. The global economic crisis is one reminder that there is no such thing as a secure job anymore.
I just wish that the government would focus more on creating individuals who can build big businesses and companies. I think the government puts more emphasis on putting people to work overseas because the government relies on foreign remittances from these workers. Now that the recession is in, overseas workers are now losing their jobs – with the latest batch of workers ending up as the most unfortunate.
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Hear hear Gem!
It’s going to be great if barriers and red tape to establishing businesses will be significantly reduce so that it becomes easy to legitimize businesses.
I do have to acknowledge however that there are programs/legislation in place (eg., the BMBE law) that can help those who are interested in small-medium enterprise but they are, by far, underutilized.
I’ve worked in the government myself and those red tape businesses are true! I actually lost my job because of that system. I just hope things will be simpler. We need rulers who have a different mindset – one who puts their personal interests last. I’m sure these small programs can even be improved because these are given enough attention.
Hi, this economy has hit hard. Perhaps people from the Tech side can create blogs or websites reaching outside the area and generate some income. When the going gets tough the tough get going. Chin up and look forward the brighter day.
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Hi Gem,
The writings of futurist Alvin Toffler has come to a head. If anyone has read his books, all that is happening now was written by Alvin.
Nothing is secure on Earth except the certainty of death. Kind of morbid thinking but that’s a fact.
In the wake of all this financial havoc, there will be more decentralization and smaller business entities. Even barter trade might revive and a blossoming of cottage industries.
With the exception of much less, the heyday of conglomerates is over. It has come a full cycle. Man will largely depend on individual skills to earn their keeps.
The challenge is for the individual to develop self sufficiency and personal skills. Change and adapt or die.
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Nicely written Windy, and thanks for the insightful comment. I think that’s where the future’s headed.
gem kamusta naman yung freelancing mo. dumami ba odesk opportunities?
calvin´s last blog post..Hard Times
Ok pa freelance. One issue is dumadami ang freelancers because they got knocked out of jobs. Competition.
kahit nga PPP eh affected din ng recession..50cents na lang mga opps hehehe..
That’s sad that a lot of our kababayans are losing their job.. Pagbalik dyan sa Pinas wala namang job opp..
chubskulit´s last blog post..sterling jewelry for less
True. Recession na talaga. It is not also wise to be going out of the country then. Must find other option than employment.
its eveywhere, too bad for the filipinos who whill go home there and there is no job waiting for them.. that’s one good thing in the states, if you get unemployed, you will receive a check for so many months from the govt, just so you’ll get by till you find another job!
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Really? Those who lost their jobs receive a check? Even at these difficult times?
Hi gem, are you in GetAFreelancer, too?
BTW, off-topic, where did you get that cool comment preview feature?
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I have a GetAFreelancer account and my profile is ready but I have not tried applying to some jobs offered on that site.
I wonder… would our company get more clients because of IT companies shutting down???
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Since last year I noticed a lot of people turning to the internet to learn how to make money online. One of the options available is to do freelance jobs. Those who kicked out of their jobs are now trying to get these online gigs – and competition can be stiff.
Oh, world economy is in shambles
but the internet is alive and kicking 
My online earnings is getting better these days because I am putting more and more time into it. I know there would be more freelancers and the competition would be more tough that is why I am honing my skills by reading more and trying out more things that could become another source of online income for me.
I hate my day job but I need it, it pays the rent and feeds the family. I am safe from being laid off because I am tenured and my position is very essential. But I hate this day job, it is boring; no art, no challenge, nothing interesting at all. But despite all that I’ve mentioned, I am thankful that I have a secure job in this time of economic uncertainty.
As to the last paragraph of your post Gem which is about your “wish that the government would focus more on creating individuals who can build big businesses and companies”, stop hoping for it because the people running our government are only good at saving their own asses. That ugly little thick-faced woman in the palace and her cronies will never build big businesses and companies for us to have work, they will build nothing but their own fortune. They care only for their own welfare and not a whit for the people.
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Thanks for the interesting comment. Good to know you have a secure day job. But I would agree, a day job is boring and there’s less challenge to it, plus the pressure of having a boss.
It is true that most people in the government are just after their own welfare. This is probably why our own kababayans prefer to leave our country.
I’m interested. You’re one of the people who’s earning a lot online. Was that all from blogging earnings? I find more people who noticed that they are earning less.
Most of it come from my blogs. There is a fraction that comes from the articles I write for WMG. I stopped getting freelance work because of time constraints (too busy with day job and my blogs). I will probably start freelancing again next week.
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Ok ah. Siguro those bloggers were just relying on one site (PPP) to get paid reviews. It always an advantage to explore other options.
Hmmm, it seems like the financial crisis is getting started. From the looks of it Gem, I also see that most of the IT related companies are the first to stumble…Oh gosh, I hope this global recession won’t get worst…
Sana nga di maging worse. It will affect not only the semicon and IT-related companies but other industries as well. The prediction is even far worse than that.
It’s a fact that recession is killing. The most number of people unemployed was in US, several of my relatives living there have been unemployed and everyday hear of more. All we can do is hope for conditions to get better. I was dropping by as usual and thought of saying thanks for commenting on my blog! Hope to see you around.
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Thanks Abdulrehman. I have read a few blogs where they had narrated how they lost their jobs. Today, I even heard about the sad news about Microsoft laying off 5,000 workers.
i think part of it Gem is the training there is more focused on getting employed, when we go to school, it is always about getting a good job in a good company, very little talks about learning to arm themselves in their choice of business they wanted to pursue.
anyway, yes, recession is scary, there are more people losing jobs each day.
about giving check here if unemployed, it is part of where the taxes go. but only those who had been laid off and has met the certain amount of earnings also gets unemployment benefits. we’re paying very high tax rates, but we do not complain much since we see where some of the taxes go.
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From the conversations that I had with other people who are from US, I noticed that the difference between our government officials to that of the US is just on this: graft and corruption.
The Philippines should have been remained one of the richest countries in Asia, but the greediness of many public officials took that all away.
totoo na talaga ito. i feel the effects of the global recession. although not directly, but i see and hear people na natanggal sa kanilang trabaho due to this crisis. kawawa naman talaga sila. sana talaga ma-end na ito as soon as possible..
i fear for the future graduates. baka wala nang manghihintay na trabaho para sa amin.. T_T
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Sana nga mag-end. We could just wish, kasi ang situation wala na rin sa control natin. All we have to do is to prepare for the worst. Ang prediction kasi ng financial analysts, magtatagal ito ng ilang years.
It is so sad that Philippines is also under recession. We as OFW are also being affected by this.
First is the Dollar exchange and next is the increasing unemployed OFW which is being affected by this global recession
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I wonder what’s next. Domino effect na kasi ang nangyayari.
That’s why it is important to really consider multiple streams of income. Diskarte na ang kailangan ngayon. Hindi dapat makampante sa kung anong mayroon ka dapat laging may foresight kasi kung hindi magugulat ka na lang at ikaw na ang tatamaan.
Yan ang sobrang inaayos ko ngayon. I really feel sorry for those who lost their jobs.
Pero dapat after nyan, kilos na. More than anyone else, you should have your share in bringing yourself in the limelight (again). Huwag na iasa sa government masyado, just get your act and start looking ways to earn money.
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Maraming tao nga ang umaasa sa government. I guess you heard the SSS problem – na gusto ng increase ang mga nag-retire. Kawawang magbabayad ang mga nasa working force, kasi tataas ang singil sa kanila.
Even other countries, sa mga developed, they have those subsidies para makasurvive. But what if nawala rin yun – matutulad din sila sa Pinas.
There are so many opportunities in this world, some are just to scared to try. I have tried many things and most have failed, I will still continue to multiply my income streams.
Thanks for the post.
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This is quite scary. To think I’m in the IT field. I hope the economy would be better the sooner or even on my graduation year (next year). I hope the economy would be back up and running again.
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It looks like IT is still promising field. Most of the jobs offered are call center jobs. I hope there are more slots for IT graduates like you.
The lack of self confidence hinders every person’s chance towards achieving a fulfilling life. Its all about exploring other ways out of your comfort zone, learn new things, don’t be afraid of trying out new ways to give yourself several options to earn income.
THe world has changed – every one now is empowered to be the master of his own life. Don’t be left out…
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“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.”
— Ernest Hemingway