SYDNEY: More than 18,000 people from nearly 200 countries have applied for the “best job in the world,” hoping to earn good money for lazing around on an Australian island, officials said Tuesday.

Malacañang admitted that the country could see massive job losses this year, but said that the administration is working hard to counter the problem by creating jobs locally despite the current economic crisis.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Friday predicted that between 40,000 and 200,000 Filipinos would be laid off from work this year because of the global economic crisis.

Expansion plans of most local privately held businesses are held back by the shortage of skilled workers, according to an international business report.

The global financial crisis has cost 5,400 Filipinos abroad and 34,000 in the country their jobs, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said Wednesday.

Livelihood and short-term employment packages are among the services being prepared by the labor department for workers who may lose their jobs as a result of the global financial crisis.

Despite a recession-hit job market, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has said that there are still 400,000 jobs available for Filipinos abroad.

Recto sees 500,000 new jobs this year – But says 800,000 workers are ‘vulnerable’ to crisis By GENALYN KABILING & RAYMUND F. ANTONIO – Manila Bulletin