Job numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority show our country at an economic crossroads. Working-age Filipinos (15 and older) now make up more than half of the total, while the number of those working to support younger Filipinos continues its marked decline to less than 50 percent from more than 90 percent back in the 1960s. This demographic sweet spot, often termed the “demographic dividend,” presents a rare opportunity to accelerate national development.

However, the same data reveals a parallel challenge: underemployment persists at around 12 percent, and the critical labor force participation rate for women, though improved, still trails that of men by 18 percentage points. Although this can be viewed as an automatic credit, it is also a potential that must be actively claimed through strategic, inclusive and decentralized human capital investment.

It is within this framework that the significant expansion of our newest program at Go Negosyo, Trabaho at Negosyo, from a pilot initiative into a nationwide movement is important. This expansion into major provincial hubs (in Cebu this coming May 9) is our contribution to convert our national human capital into broad-based, resilient prosperity. Helping us reach out to the provinces are malls like SM, whose nationwide footprint helps us reach out to communities across the Philippines.

Trabaho at Negosyo’s nationwide expansion brings the tools of prosperity to where people already live. This strategy recognizes the unique economic identities of each region – the agri-business potential of Central Luzon, the IT-BPM readiness of Cebu, the agro-industrial strength of Davao and the tourism and creative industries of Palawan and Bohol. It will not only match hires with companies but also cultivate job creators, helping them scale so they can build enterprises that employ locals.

The program’s power lies in its integrated, two-pronged approach, which moves beyond isolated solutions. In partnership with national agencies and local governments, Trabaho at Negosyo will be a skills-matching activity alongside the free mentoring of MSMEs from the community.

Trabaho at Negosyo adds the critical layer of entrepreneurship: this means proposing to job seekers that they can become not just the ones looking for employment but eventually be the people who can create jobs. It is the “People” pillar of our ASEAN-BAC chairship, where MSMEs, youth, women and human capital complement the three other pillars of Planet, Platform and Productivity.

As Go Negosyo has emphasized over the two decades that it has been an advocate of the Filipino MSME, there needs to be mentoring, access to markets and access to financing to ensure that entrepreneurship dreams become a reality. To the brave entrepreneurs out there, there are ways to raise your chances of success: get a good mentor who can help guide you through your business plan. As I tell the hundreds of eager entrepreneurs I’ve mentored over the years, a good business plan will not only serve as your roadmap when things are uncertain or when the temptation to take shortcuts becomes too much – it will also help your chances of getting financing for your business.

Mentorship is not just generic advice but tailored, ongoing guidance. Case studies of MSMEs found that with structured mentorship, small enterprises are more likely to survive beyond three years and are more likely to scale. Our veteran Go Negosyo pool of mentors volunteer to mentor MSMEs for free through 3M on Wheels and now, with Trabaho at Negosyo.

Access to markets is one of the greatest hurdles for MSMEs. For years now, Go Negosyo has cultivated relationships with the public and private sectors to make it easier for MSMEs to reach out to their markets. In recent years, digital marketplaces and platforms have become part of the initiatives that we regularly organize for MSMEs. Similar efforts have also been made to pave access to money, or financing, thanks also to our partners in the public and private sectors, as well as mentoring aimed specifically at raising the financial and digital literacy of Filipino MSMEs.

And now that the pandemic-induced shift to digital technology is with us to stay, we will continue to onboard both jobseekers and MSMEs into the digital economy by helping prepare the workforce for the effects of AI on the job landscape, and training MSMEs in digital payments, social media marketing, e-commerce logistics and even basic data analytics.

With hope, we can increase the survival rate of MSMEs and see a reduction in the rate of underemployment, especially outside the urban centers.

The demographic dividend will not always be our advantage. There may come a time when we, too, will have a graying population. But by investing in our people’s capabilities and entrepreneurial spirit where they live, through programs like Trabaho at Negosyo and now its expansion to the provinces, we can build resilient local economies and move closer to inclusive prosperity by converting our human potential into lasting national progress.

 Originally Published in Philippine Star