Explanation:

Millions of people lost their jobs or had their working hours reduced as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic. There are also individuals who do not have work in the first place. However, Filipinos
who belong to the disadvantaged and marginalized sector have suffered more from this situation.
That's why we picked “Unemployment of Disadvantaged and Marginalized Groups” as our main
problem.
 
There are several reasons why this problem exists in the country. First, there are few job
opportunities for them. Numerous employers exclude certain groups from the labor market due
to the reason that their qualifications do not fit the organization's requirements. This is due to a
lack of appropriate educational programs tailored to the needs of D&M groups. Even worse,
individuals belonging to these sectors often experience exclusion from education and social
activities at all. Subsequently, there would be a lack of job experience. Since they have no access
to quality education, the disadvantaged and marginalized also have little to no chance of having a
good employment experience/background. As a lot of these people did not finish a degree
because they hardly have the means to attain it, they are less likely to be hired by employers.
 
A second cause of having this problem is there's a lenient implementation of policies to promote
and protect D&M groups. There are laws signed to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion
especially in the workplace, however, the implementation of these policies is not “strict,” so
discrimination against them still happens. The next reason, as mentioned, is discrimination.
People belonging to this sector are often subjected to bullying and unfairness because of various
stereotypes, stigma, and prejudice, lowering their chances of getting a job fit for them. The cause
of this is the different social and cultural perspectives in our country. People have various beliefs
and contrasting opinions, thus making it harder for others to adjust and be part of them. This is
also why certain population groups are excluded from the general ones. The fourth cause would
be technological advancements. Due to the rapid spread of globalization, most firms now make it
a requirement to have expertise with regard to the use of technology. In addition, since many
machines, equipment and robots can do the work of many individuals at a faster time, the
demand for labor has been reduced. Moreover, D&M groups are commonly subjected to
unfairness and discrimination because of different stereotypes, stigma, and prejudice, lessening
their chances of finding a job that is suitable for them.
 
The fifth reason, which is both a cause and effect of unemployment, is poverty. People living in
poverty experience low-quality housing, underfunded schools, and restricted access to public
transportation and services. These outcomes reduce a person's chances of finding employment.
To combat many of the issues we described, the government needs to be involved.
Unfortunately, many institutions are either unable or unwilling to serve the poor. Then, the last
one is the outbreak of COVID-19 (lockdowns/quarantines). We know that D&M individuals are
less likely to access education, health care, and other basic opportunities, making it harder for
them to apply for jobs. But the pandemic is intensifying these inequalities, leading to a much
more struggle in finding employment. Furthermore, because of the health crisis, many companies
have reached liquidation and faced serious losses with their operations, thus cutting off expenses
such as workers’ wages by reducing their labor force.
 
If this problem is not resolved, it may lead to the following situations: First, low standard of
living of D&M individuals. During the pandemic, things have been more difficult for them. It
was harder to get food, healthcare, job, and education because of the strict lockdowns and
protocols. Some people who live in shelters even experienced serious problems with sanitation
and safety. With all of these hindrances we mentioned, the current situation of these people is
relatively worse compared to the majority. Moreover, the privileged persons have clear
advantages over the D&M groups, as some cannot afford to work from home during the
pandemic.
 
Second, there would be slower economic development. To achieve real economic progress, we
must have “growth with development.” Along with striving for high levels of growth, people's
quality of life or living standards must improve as well. Aside from that, social inclusion is an
important factor that must be addressed to attain development. The third effect would also be
poverty. Joblessness results in a loss of income and numerous families are left without sufficient
incomes to meet living expenses. Sadly, this is exacerbated in the case of D&M groups. Since
poverty is commonly experienced by these people, health issues may arise because they don’t
have access to quality healthcare. This could lead to physical, mental, and emotional difficulties
as well, or worse, increased mortality rates as they are more susceptible to illnesses and diseases.
Lastly, D&M groups would lack access to education, have fewer savings, and be more
vulnerable to child labor because the elders of the family are not employed.
Many individuals lose their jobs due to several reasons, one of which is the COVID-19 crisis.
Addressing this issue completely is not feasible. Thus, we focus on the "Unemployment of
Disadvantaged and Marginalized Groups." Employment in this sector bears weighty
importance. It promotes inclusivity by giving opportunities and losing the stigma towards these
people. Moreover, employment stimulates growth and development and brings positive impacts
to one’s welfare. When someone is unemployed, they are vulnerable to various illnesses. Hence,
undertaking this problem avoids poor health conditions. Mental well-being improves too if
someone has a job and is less likely to experience depressive symptoms. Furthermore, earning
income encourages saving for future purposes. It could help these individuals feel secure and
stable as time passes. Additionally, economic prosperity is essential since unemployment has
adverse effects on a country. Therefore, fostering higher levels of growth while improving
people's quality of living must be considered.

Unemployment is a heavier burden for the PWDs, LGBTQIA+, indigenous people, out-of-school
youth, and women who experience this. It has a negative impact on their family members as
well. Aside from that, unemployment reaches out to the community where they reside. While
one person does not impact society, more unemployed people lead to higher poverty in certain
areas. They are more likely to have limited employment opportunities, low-quality housing,
limited access to public transportation and services, and underfunded schools. On a bigger scale,
the government and the economy are troubled, too. One of the government's roles is to provide
jobs and to lessen unemployment. With increasing numbers of jobless D&M individuals, they
also impact the economy as a whole. They spend less money, which ultimately contributes to
less contribution to the economy in relation to services or goods sold and produced. Additionally,
it lessens the productivity of workers, thus damaging the production and income of the country.
Ultimately, unemployment impacts not only the unemployed person but the people around them
as well.

Firstly, the unemployment of the D&M has been shaped by discrimination. They are treated
differently because of their sexual orientation, origin, physical disability, etc. Workplace
discrimination is illegal but it still happens, and this group rarely experiences equal opportunities
compared to the majority. Also, overpopulation is a huge dilemma in the Philippines with a 1.7%
average growth rate. The number of people entering the market is greater than the number of
jobs created—the steady supply of graduates outstrips the rate at which jobs are created.
Concerning this, the lack of educational attainment is very evident because people living in
poverty are unlikely to finish school. Thus, employers are disfavouring these individuals when it
comes to hiring.

The employment rate of PWDs, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous people, and women are still low.
Cortes (2013) stated that many PWDs belong to the poorest sector of society, which limits their
entry into formal employment. LGBT Funders (2019) said that LGBTQ is at high risk for
unemployment with 44% of transgender unemployed or underemployed. Before the pandemic,
the unemployment rate among indigenous people was 1.8 times reflecting long-lasting disparities
in labor market conditions (Bleakney et al., 2020). Also, the Philippine Institute for Development
Labors (2017) indicated that fewer women are working than men. Another evidence is that social
exclusion of these people links to poverty as a cause-effect of unemployment. According to the
Chronic Poverty Research (2005), different people experience such dilemmas, including the
discriminated and stigmatized people, socially marginalized, disabled, and those with severe
health. In many situations, poor women, children, and older people are likely to be trapped in
poverty. Lastly, disadvantaged people experience discrimination on their minimum wages in
their jobs. In the Philippines, evidence suggests that increasing legal minimum wages correlates
to fewer hours worked. Overall, it leads to a lower employment rate, lower household income,
and a greater poverty prevalence rate. Surprisingly, these negative consequences affect
disadvantaged demographic groups. With all these findings, unemployment is definitely
necessary to address.

Besides unemployment, the problem can be viewed from different angles. For example, (1)
D&M groups experience severe hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and
services, discrimination and exclusion, and lack of participation in decision-making. They are
often subjected to unfair treatment, thus restricting them from obtaining basic resources from
time to time. (2) Increase in overall health problems in this sector. These people were unable to
acquire quality healthcare, causing them to disregard their existing conditions. Lastly, (3) further
decline in equality, diversity, and inclusion bears a problem that is long present in the country.
The stigma wherein they must be in isolation should be halted because it brings forth problems
relative to this cause.

Other than establishing a business, there can be alternatives to resolve this issue. Funding in
education to create more local schools can ensure better facilities and options for them. Through
this, they can acquire jobs easier and use their knowledge to obtain income. Entrepreneurship
programs can educate these people to have a better understanding of business. Development
centers may also be built to focus on their interests and competencies. Finally, apprenticeship is
also encouraged. It allows learning on the job and exposure to real-world situations.