Challenging labor market 134. The labor market became even more challenging and competitive. Since many companies during the pandemic have shut down, downsized, or implemented freeze hiring, more fresh graduates found it more difficult to be employed due to the limited opportunities available. Underemployment and unemployment 135. It took longer for fresh graduates to get hired during the pandemic. Based on the data gathered from hirers, which are mostly BPO companies, an employer participant compares that unlike in the pre-pandemic period, when it takes 30 to 90 days for fresh graduates to find a job, nowadays, it takes three to six months, on average for them to get hired. This is due to the limited openings and infrastructure of the hirer and job seeker for a work-from-home setup. New graduates are employed mostly in entry-level jobs, with a monthly salary ranging from Php14,600 to Php20,000 based on the JobStreet report,180 which is slightly above the current highest daily minimum wage (Php508.02 in the National Capital Region) based on DOLE as of June 2022.181 136. Many graduates were unemployed and underemployed. TESDA cites several reasons for unemployment among TVET graduates (aged 15 to 24 years old) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which include travel/movement being restricted, the employer having to close shop/business, household members working were sick or in quarantine, the employer deciding to downsize or reduce the number of employees, and daily labor was reduced.182 Because the labor market has become challenging, some graduates have accepted offers from companies even though they were overqualified for the job since it was the only work available in their area or to them. A stark drop in the employment rate was also recorded in Iloilo City Community College, from 90% in 2018 to 68.55% in 2019 and 58.06% in 2020. Issues Specific to Vulnerable Sectors National government and LGUs Equal opportunities 137. Slots in educational assistance programs for IPs are limited. Despite the vast amount of IP education advocacy and services funds, it is still not enough, as an NCIP representative relates. Many IPs want to go to school but cannot be accommodated by NCIP, so they refer them to other government agencies with programs for indigenous people like CHED, DOH, and TESDA. 180 supra note 41. Department of Labor and Employment – National Wages and Productivity Commission, Current Minimum Wage Rates, available at https://nwpc.dole.gov.ph/stats/current-real-minimum-wage-rates/ (accessed July 11, 2022). 182 Commission on Higher Education and Department of Health, supra note 177. 181 52