CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Background of the Study

Employment status is one of the major factors influencing the quality of work. Manpower

contributes to building a productive nation (Galila-Infante et.al, 2014). Employment of students

after graduation can be determined by how the expected student outcomes were achieved. Thus,

educational institutions’ designed curriculum and its implementation are factors for achieving

student outcomes (Terano, 2019). Both domestic and international labor markets are now highly

competitive. The potential of future employment is a big factor for parents when deciding which

universities and colleges their children will attend and graduate from. Employability, thus,

becomes a matter of crucial consideration when schools define their curriculum and their policies

on recruitment, entrance, and retention. (Albina et al., 2020).

According to the Philippine Statistic Authority, Employment rate in July 2022 in Bicol

Region was estimated at 94.8%, translating to about 2.36 million employed persons. This was

higher compared to the reported employment rate of 91.6% in July 2021 or a year-on-year

increase of about 166.8 thousand employed persons from 2.19 million in July 2021. The region's

unemployment rate decelerated from the reported 8.4% a year ago to 5.2% in July 2022. The

total number of unemployed individuals 15 years old and over was estimated at 130.67 thousand.

Underemployed persons or employed persons who expressed their desire to have additional

hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job was reported at 459.23 thousand.

1
 The standard of the obtained results is a key component of quality in higher education.

Advantages from higher education include developing competencies and abilities connected to

the workplace that equip students for employment. Therefore, having sufficient knowledge about

the job outcomes of training program graduates could help in developing policies to address

issues like unemployment. Students, particularly graduates of any course, are required to earn a

sense of competence in their field of interest and develop the confidence to explore new

possibilities and new employment especially if there is increasing competition among rivals at

work. (Ashenafi Abate Woya, 2019)

The state university in this study is the Bicol University which is mandated to give

professional and technical training, and provide advanced and specialized instructions in

literature, philosophy the science, and arts, besides providing for the promotion of scientific and

technological researches (Section 3, R.A. 5521). The Bicol University has to move forward to

SUC Level V if it aims to be comparable to the best universities in Asia. Grounded on these legal

foundations, it is expected to support the primary mandate of State Universities and Colleges that

is, to produce the required human resource for regional and national development. It envisions

giving rise to highly trained, globally competitive, and employable graduates in various fields. It

should continuously innovate to effectively respond to the needs of its clients and immediate

environment. In this manner, the University assures that its graduates follow through with the

university’s missions and goals through tracing their professional practice in their workplace.

This data is useful for the university’s database as an essential input to institutional planning,

policy formation, and decision-making (Theme 6: Improving University Management Services,

BU RD Thrusts and Directions 2007-2010). As guided by these facts, the researcher conducted

this research and came up with a study that would help in preventing the spread of the virus

2
inside the Bicol University College of Industrial Technology, East Campus. This study is

entitled, “: Employment Status of the Graduates of Bicol University Industrial Technology East

Campus, Philippines” This study was conducted to determine the employment status

of the graduates of Bicol University College of Industrial Technology East Campus from AY

2021-2022.Specifically, it aimed to determine: 1) the profile of the graduates in terms of sex,

civil status, parents’ occupation, average annual income and household size; 2) the

educational profile of the graduates in terms of highest educational attainment, knowledge and

skills acquired from the course/degree program and self-readiness; and 3) the employment data

of the respondents as to the number of graduates who were employed/unemployed, reasons for

being the unemployed, present occupation, status in their present occupation and monthly salary.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed determine the employment status of the graduates of Bicol

University College of Industrial Technology East Campus from AY 2021-2022.

The development of the study was made by the researchers to solve the following specific

problems:

1. What is the employment status of Bicol University Industrial Technology?

2. What are the factors that affects the employment status of Bicol University Industrial
Technology?
3. What are the common factors that affects the employment status of Bicol University
Industrial Technology?

Scope and Delimitation

The study was focused on collecting data about Employment Status of Bicol University

Graduates. However, there are limitations, the researchers invited respondents only from the

Bicol University East Campus Graduates batch.

3
Significance of the Study

The researcher believe that the findings and conclusion of the said study will be essential,

significant and beneficial to the following:

Bicol university Department. This will help them determine the strengths and weaknesses of

the students based on the responses of the graduates. It will also help to determine what specific

areas they should focus more and further enhance in order to make the program more responsive

towards preparing the students for their future professions.

Students. This will help them realize whether the knowledge and skills developed in the

program would be useful to them in their future careers. It will also encourage them to appreciate

and pursue their course.

Graduates. This will help them to have insights about the present status of their batch mates

and for them to keep in touch and to have updates to them through knowing their employment

status.

Bicol university College of Industrial Technology. This will help the college track

graduates with the use of the database. This will also help the college in improving the course’s

curriculum through the recommendation of the graduates.

Researchers. This will teach them to value time, patience and hard work. They will also

become more sensitive and knowledgeable about the profession they are studying.

Future researchers. This will serve as a guide or reference in their future studies on the

subject matter. This will also help them to continue tracer study in the future.

4
NOTES
Albina et.al (2014), “Employability tracer study of Information Technology Education
graduates from a state university in the Philippines” Retrieved from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291120300449

Galila-Infante et.al, 2014 “Employment Status of the Graduates of Guimaras State College,
Philippines” Retrieved from: https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=2687

PSAR (2022), “Employment Rate in July 2022 in Bicol Region”, Retrieved from:
http://rsso05.psa.gov.ph/article/employment-rate-july-2022-bicol-region-estimated-
948#:~:text=Employment%20rate%20in%20July%202022%20in%20Bicol%20Region%20was
%20estimated,2.19%20million%20in%20July%202021.

Terano, H. J. R. (2018, November). Development and effectiveness of the simplified

textbook in advanced mathematics for engineering programs in one state college in the
philippines. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES, 23(1-3).
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.31901/24566322.2018/23.1-3.1069
doi:10.31901/24566322.2018/23.1-3.1069

Woya, A. A. (2019, January). Employability among statistics graduates: Graduates’

attributes, competence, and quality of education. Education Research International, 2019, 1–7.
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7285491 doi: 10.1155/2019/7285491

5
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the number of reading materials, related literature and studies

which contribute to the present study or research. It contains information on the summary of

gathered and reviewed reading materials and literature associated with the present study,

previous studies carried out, synthesis of the state of the art, and gap bridged by the study are

likewise presented. The theoretical and conceptual paradigms and the definition of terms are also

included.

Related Literature

The researchers conducted and gathered information of past literature and studies which

showed related ideas to the present study. After reading and searching the worldwide web,

different books, and reading articles related to the present study, the researcher were able to

collect various data. They were taken into consideration and served as basis and guide for the

researchers. In this part of the study, the similarities and differences of selected literature and

studies to the present study can be distinguished.

According to Arcelo and Sanyal (1987) about Employment and career opportunities after

graduation: a study on the transition from college to work in the Philippines, the presence of a

large number of knowledgeable unemployed can cause political instability in a country because

6
 they are among the educated class and are aware of the benefits society can provide or

feel doubly deprived. An analysis of the unemployment situation in the Philippines revealed that

young graduates are still in the job-search stage. This book is for AB Journalism graduates who

will be looking for work after they graduate. Also, whether or not the journalism program's

training and learning will be applied to jobs that are suitable for them.

From the book of Sanchez and Agpaoa (1997) about Contemporary Social Problems and

Issues, stated that Workers' educational levels and literacy rates in the Philippines are among the

highest in Asia, but technical, manual, and managerial skills are underdeveloped and scarce.

There is an overabundance of college graduates, particularly in the Manila area, who are in high

demand for employment in fields such as education, law, and other professionals. The authors

want to demonstrate how journalism graduates used their skills and trainings to gain and develop

technical, manual, and managerial skills that Filipino workers lack. This is the realization that

even college graduates may struggle to find work if they are not well-equipped with the trainings

and programs that their college provided.

Employment is the ability of an individual to showcase his talent and put the trainings he

has received in a course program to use. Thomas Powers stated in his book "Educating for

Careers" those marketable skills provided today's crop of worker's employment opportunities.

Powers' statement is relevant to the current study because he stated that education is critical to

having the marketability and general skills required to find an appropriate job. This study aids in

the development of such skills among college graduates in order for them to find or obtain an

appropriate job.

The Philippines could extend beyond the status of employment in the country, but rights

and significance must be understood. According to Cristobal M. Pagoso's book Labor

7
Economics, in light of low literacy rates and rising unemployment in developing countries,

greater educational opportunities should be provided for the large proportion of adult population

as well as the large number of youths outside the formal school system to help them acquire

further knowledge and skill, thereby improving their livelihood and strengthening the country.

As ABM students, one thing we must keep in mind is that there is no such thing as age

discrimination when it comes to job opportunities, because in the field of work, being fair to any

person who is capable of working is a factor in being employed.

In terms of labor or employment, Philippine society today faces numerous challenges.

According to the book, labor-only contracting in a "cabo" economy, some economists would

justify labor-only contracting as our only weapon for remaining competitive. As a result, some

workers are looking for better job opportunities abroad with higher pay. The first issue that

graduates face nowadays is finding work after graduation. Knowing that it is very difficult to

find a job suitable to their graduated course right away after graduation may cause them to be

influenced to work in a field unrelated to the profession, they graduated for the usual reason of

the salary that they can obtain right away. Some go abroad to find their destiny or for some other

reason, such as a higher salary, rather than continuing their profession as an accountant if there is

no salary increase.

The book, Unemployment and the Dual Labor Market stressed that the unemployment is

the outgrowth of a process of job search where workers have limited information about the labor

market. On the other hand, people who first begin looking for jobs lack basic information will

help the graduates to disseminate the rejection of jobs to higher expectations. This book mainly

wants to view that job searching is a wide-process action where in job-seekers should gain more

8
knowledge or information that will reaches their satisfaction on what and where to find jobs that

will bring out their profession.

Related studies

According to the study of Jun, 2016 about Factors Affecting Employment and

Unemployment for Fresh Graduates in China said that the factors such as college reputation,

major, and gender, which affect job search prospects of graduates from Shandong Province in

China. The employment of a duration model with parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric

methods produced a number of significant conclusions. First off, graduates from research

universities tend to find jobs more quickly. According to the analysis, graduates in engineering,

economics, and management had an easier time finding employment. Although they are not

more likely to find jobs than the former, other major graduates do not differ significantly from

the former. Additionally, there is no discernible difference between graduates of genders.

The study of Verona (2011) “A Tracer Study of the Employment Status of PUPQC AY

2004-2005”, determined the general profile and current employment status of the respondents,

who are Polytechnic University of the Philippines graduates from the academic year 2004-2005.

This study focuses on the tracer study, which is a method used to locate graduates of academic

institutions, past recipients of scholarship grants, former participants, and others in order to

collect data and update information about these people. This type of research can also be used to

generate or influence a specific institution's curriculum development decision making and

planning. It also regulates document efficiency and support on a specific institution's

demographic profile, which can be measured through the quality of graduates.

9
 According to Daep et al., "Employer's Review on AB English Graduates of Bicol

University College of Arts and Letters SY 2006-2009," the study shows that most AB English

graduates are hired by newly established private companies in Albay, employers of AB English

graduates find their job performance and attitude to be very satisfactory, it is more appropriate to

use communication skills and the skills that should be imposed depends on the line of work you

engage in. The researchers want to know if Bicol University East Campus graduates will be

satisfied with their job performance, personal development, professionalism, office management,

and time management.

Macaraub's (2012) study about "Employment Motivation of Selected Media Practitioners

in Legazpi City," respondents were motivated to work because they had good relationships with

their coworkers. Media practitioners are among the lowest-paid workers and are exploited; some

do not receive a regular salary but instead receive an allowance or a talent fee, and are required

to solicit advertisements for a living. According to the findings of the study, some respondents

stated that they are satisfied with their jobs and are motivated by their coworkers. In addition, the

monthly income they receive and the type of workplace they work in satisfy them. It is relevant

to the current study because graduates will experience different types of satisfaction at work,

such as providing good quality coworker relationships.

La Grow (2004) conducted a study entitled “Factors that Affect the Employment Status

of Working-Age Adults with Visual Impairments in New Zealand” found out that the rates of

employment among people with disabilities in New Zealand were shown to be influenced by a

variety of factors, including gender, age at onset, type of disability, degree of disability, and the

presence of other disabling disorders. Lower rates of employment and labor were associated with

10
early onset, degree of disability, gender, being a woman, and the existence of multiple disabling

conditions.

“On employability skills, majority are efficient on disassembling and assembling firearms

and knowledgeable on collecting, preservation and handling of evidence” said by the researchers

Ruiz et.al (2014). According to the report, the majority of respondents held regular or permanent

jobs. Graduates might be found working in the private sector. Many of those who were employed

less than a year after graduating had occupations that are connected to the program. Graduates

who reported being unemployed cited family or health issues as their reasons. They made an

unsuccessful attempt to join the police. Graduates struggled to develop strong research-related

questions.

Regarding interpersonal skills, the majority of respondents claimed to be adaptable and

successful at shifting circumstances and environments.

Force participation is the percentage of people with disabilities who are either employed

or actively looking for work. Although the age of start and severity of the handicap were

confounding factors, it was nevertheless discovered that education level was associated to work

status. It was discovered that the type of handicap had a different impact on employment rates.

"Tracer Survey of Agriculture Graduates," Lalican (2009), where the College of

Agriculture of the University of the Philippines Los Baos traced its graduates, their aim is also to

assess its curriculum and discuss the relevance of its productivity with the current situation.

According to the study's findings, employers prefer specialists over generalists, and graduates are

effective, efficient, and cooperative. They also consider graduates to be knowledgeable,

dependable, and resourceful; however, many employers describe UPLB graduates as

academically inclined, with a know-it-all attitude but an assertive personality.

11
 A Job market offers job trainings to equip employers to develop work environment.

Belen, “Employment Prospects for AB English Graduates of 2009” The research aims to

determine the job opportunities available for 2009 AB English graduates, as well as the

qualifications required from AB English graduates that would give them an advantage in the job

market in terms of academic skills and special skills. It is also about determining the training

requirements of the job market for AB English graduates. The authors' findings will reflect the

idea that in order for general skills to be functional in high-demand jobs, special skills are

required to enhance specific job skills. As a result, graduates will improve their competitiveness

and develop their potential to be suitable for a specific job.

Synthesis of the State of the Art

The present study will be focused on employment status of Bicol University College of

Industrial Technology graduates. According to the Related Literature, education is an investment

made by students to improve their capabilities in various aspects of their lives. It is the school's

responsibility to assist students in deciding and planning which job they want to pursue. Also, in

the previous study, they identified the factors that affect employments status of the graduates

Similarly, the related studies demonstrated a high level of relevance to this proposition. It

supported the claim of being unique among all studies conducted, though it also agreed on

employment and the factors that influence graduates in choosing a job, their skills that they

found least and most useful in their current job, which will really help students understand that

there are a lot of job opportunities in line with their course after they graduated.

The present study is relevant to the related studies it will benefit the other school

graduates or other future graduates regarding on employment status after being graduated.

12
Gap-bridged by the Study

The researcher’s review of Related Literature and Studies has been made, upon various

researcher a gap is discerned that no study embarked upon the same researches in the Journalism

Department. Based from related materials found no study has found out to the study on the same

topic in the Journalism Department, except for the books that cater to its parts many have studied

about the employment status, job satisfaction, and the factors affecting the performance in their

job. No study traced the employment status of the Bicol University College Industrial

technology, East Campus specifically from batch 2022 which is the pioneer of K-12. Researcher

also found out that the present study was the first who will create a database of the graduates, for

students who will conduct the same study for them to easily trace and get information about the

graduates. This is the gap bridged by the present study.

Theoretical Framework

According to John Holland's Career Choice Theory, when a person picks a career, they

search for jobs where they may work with others who share their interests. This study is based on

this theory. They look for environments where they may showcase their greatest qualities,

talents, and skills while also being themselves. Six (6) personality types have been established by

Holland's theory: realistic, investigative, artistic, sociable, enterprising, and conventional. People

are thought to fall into one of these categories (Marini, 2009) Holland’s theory is centered on the

notion that most people fit into one of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic,

Social, Enterprising and Conventional.

A realistic type of person prefers activities where he is certain of what is real and possible

13
in a given situation and whenever problems arise, this type is capable of dealing with the

problem in a practical and effective way. On the other hand, this type may not like therapeutic

activities and education. The investigative type prefers activities which utilizes observation,

creative investigation on physical, cultural phenomena and biological in order to understand and

control such phenomena. Artistic has preference for activities that entail the manipulation of

physical, verbal, or human materials to create art forms or products, and to an aversion to

explicit, systematic and ordered activities. Social has preference for activities that entail the

manipulation of others to inform, train, develop, cure, or enlighten and an aversion to explicit,

ordered, systematic activities involving materials, tools or machines. Enterprising has preference

for activities that entail the manipulation of other to attain organizational goals or economic, and

a version to observational, symbolic and systematic activities. And conventional has preference

for activities that entail the explicit, ordered, or systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping

records, filling materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according

to a prescribed plan, operating business machines and data processing machines to attain

organizational or economic goals, and an aversion to ambiguous, free, exploratory or

unsystematized activities (Brown & Lent, 2005).

This holland theory of career choice applied in this present study since this theory

maintains that in choosing a career, people prefer jobs where they can be around others who are

like them. They search for environments that will let them use their skills and abilities, and

express their attitudes and values, while taking on enjoyable problems and roles and with that;

this theory will explain this presents study since newly graduates are seeking for careers that can

be fitted to their chosen fields that can also be one of the factors of being employed or not

employed person after graduation.

14
 Figure 1: Theoretical framework

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework of this study is needed so that those who will see and read this

study can easily interpret objectively the processes in their search study. The inputs gathered by

the researchers of this study cover the concepts and information based from the employment

status of the respondents, factors and common factors that affects employment status of the

respondents.

15
  The feedback of this study included the input, throughput, and output of the study. The

throughput of this study consisted of the step-by-step process such as, making survey, letter of

designation, data gathering, data analyzing. 

The output of this study was the overall processes that will come up with the study,

which is the Employment Status of Bicol University College of Industrial Technology

Graduates.

  The conceptual paradigm of the study is presented in Figure 2.

16
Definitions of term

Bicol UIniversity Graduates. In the study, it refers to the Bicol University College of

Industrial Technology batche 2022 who satisfactorily completed the requirements of the four-

year course, and they were used as the subject of the study.

Demographic profile. It refers to a form of demographic analysis in which information is

gathered about a group to better understand the group's composition or behaviors for the purpose

of providing more relevant services. In business, a demographic profile is usually used to

increase marketing efficiency.

Employed. It refers to the given employment, or paid work; hired, especially permanently by

inclusion on a payroll:

Employement profile. It refers to essentially a list of skills, qualifications, and personality

traits that your ideal recruit would have. You can think of it as a candidate persona.

Evaluation. It refers to the structured interpretation and giving of meaning to predicted or

actual impacts of proposals or results. It looks at original objectives, and at what is either

predicted or what was accomplished and how it was accomplished. So evaluation can be

formative, that is taking place during the development of a concept or proposal, project or

organization, with the intention of improving the value or effectiveness of the proposal, project,

or organization.

Job. It refers to a piece of work, especially a specific task done as part of the routine of one's

occupation or for an agreed price

17
 Unemployed. It refers to a situation where a person actively searches for employment but is

unable to find work. Unemployment is considered to be a key measure of the health of the

economy.

18
Notes

Arcelo et al..(1987), Employment and career opportunities after graduation: a study on the
transition from college to work in the
Philippines,Retrieved:https://www.iiep.unesco.org/en/publication/employment-and-career-
opportunities-after-graduation-study-transition-college-work

Galila-Infante et.al, (2014)“Employment Status of the Graduates of Guimaras State College,

Philippines” Retrieved from: https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=2687

Kapunan,(2011) A Tracer Study of The Employment Status of PUPQC AY 2004-2005 Retrieved

From:https://www.scribd.com/doc/50720521/A-Tracer-Study-of-the-Employment-Status-of-
PUPQC-AY-2004-2005#

Kong Jun (2016), “Factors Affecting Employment and Unemployment for Fresh Graduates in
China” Retrieved from: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/56148

Pagoso (2006), LABOR ECONOMICS Retrieved from: https://www.rexestore.com/economics-

college-books/288-labor-economics.html

Sanchez and Barbado (1997), Contemporary social problems and issues Retrieved from:
https://animosearch.dlsu.edu.ph/discovery/fulldisplay?
vid=63DLSUL_INST:ANIMOSEARCH&search_scope=physicalmaterials&tab=physicalmateria
ls&docid=alma991001125329706351&context=L

Steven La Grow(2004),“Factors that Affect the Employment Status of Working-Age Adults with
visual impairments in NewZealand”Retrieved Fromhttps://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ735502.pdf

19
 CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains the research and the study of the course undertaken and method that

will give detailed information of the overall research method used. The relevance of the study

will be found also in this chapter wherein the data, respondents of the study and the gathering

procedures used.

Research Methods

The researcher made use of the descriptive survey method through. It is a way of finding

out or getting information through asking questions or using a questionnaire. Through this survey

method of research was able to find out whether the Bicol University College of Industrial

Technology student batch 2022 graduates used their graduated profession or career in their

present job or if they are employed in connection to their line of business. It will be able to know

the current employment status of the graduates and lastly, it will be seen the problems and the

reasons of graduates in choosing the job, their benefits and salary that they get and the

expectations to their job.

Sources of Data

The Bicol University College of Industrial Technology batch 2022 graduates are the

primary sources of data where in the researcher will send questionnaire for them answer the

questions given. In addition, the secondary sources of information are the books, Journals,

unpublished materials and any other reading resources containing the discussions related to the

present study found in the library and by the use of the internet sources.

20
Respondents of the Study

The fifty respondents who were the primary sources of data are graduates of Bicol

University College of Industrial Technology batch 2022. The profile such as age, gender, civil

status and educational attainment were primarily considered in the given questionnaire, as they

will relate to the response, that will serve as indicators provided in the instrument. Respondents

identified by the researchers using purposive sampling among the graduate students in Bicol

University – College of Industrial Technology, who fitted the criteria set for the current

undertaking. It is not a mutually exclusive category of the sampling technique rather many other

non-probability techniques are purposive in nature. In purposive sampling the sample is

approached having a prior purpose in mind.

Research Instruments

This study will use a survey questionnaire in the data gathering procedure. The

questionnaires were designed based on the statement of the problem that the researcher will be

formulated. The questionnaire is will composed of three sections. The first division is composed

of the employment status of respondents. The second part is composed of the factors affecting

employment status of respondents. The third part is composed of the Common factors affecting

employment status of respondents. The questions are tested if they are related and relevant in the

success of the study.

21
Data Gathering Procedure

The present study gathered data first in the library where the researchers were able to

search for the different reading materials that will help the study to gather information. The

related literature and studies that were taken from the secondary sources were gathered in

different websites and books that are available.

The researcher will request the registrar for the information about the lists of the

graduates of Bicol University College of Industrial technology graduates. This will help to trace

the graduates by the use of the directory. The researcher will also use the social media/ internet

sites such as Facebook. This enabled them to easily contact target respondents. The researcher

will also conduct a survey and gather data through sending questionnaires with a cover letter. E-

mail was utilized for those respondents who are currently working and residing outside the

province of Albay. However, for those who live within Legazpi City, the researcher will give the

questionnaire personally. After the survey, the researcher will interpret and analyze the data that

will be obtain from Bicol University College of Industrial technology batch 2022 graduates.

Statistical Treatment

The researcher summarized the data though frequency counts and percentages to answer

the problems 1,2 and 3 of the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in order to

get the percentage. The percentage was used to determine the portion of the graduates of each

year including on their status, along employment.

The formula to get the percentage is shown below.

22
Percentage = f x 100

∑f

Where f = frequency

∑f = summation of frequency

100= constant.

23