The Department of Labor and Employment now considers the Philippine shoe industry a priority growth area and has stepped up efforts to modernize and reinforce the global competitiveness of the local shoemakers.

DOLE said in a press release it made the footwear industry one of the 23 priority areas under the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

TESDA's Labor Market Intelligence Report indicates that the industry identified critical and indispensable skills the Philippine footwear industry requires. On a projected annual domestic market growth rate of five percent from 2005 to 2007, industry experts said the sector will need 662 skiving operators, 1,324 upper makers, and also 662 each in sewing and closing, lasting, assembly, bottoming, finishing, and pattern making, or a total of 5,958 workers.

The LMIR added estimates that the country's yearly footwear requirement stands at 46 million to 51 million pairs per year.

DOLE said that to overcome the stiff competition in both the local and overseas footwear markets, the Philippine shoe industry is turning to niche marketing by concentrating production for the mid-range to high-end markets.

The LMIR said that the Philippine Footwear Association in Marikina City started a three-year Footwear Manufacturing Course in 2003, alongside short term courses, to enable footwear workers to upgrade their skills, the press release from DOLE said.*

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