The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that more than 216,000 job opportunities, including over 34,000 overseas roles, will be up for grabs during its nationwide job fairs in celebration of Labor Day this year.
In an ABS-CBN News report, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma shared that they are aiming to surpass last year’s offering of 235,000 job vacancies. “Gusto ho namin mahigitan din ‘yung number ng mga vacancies noong nakaraang taon,” he said, adding that the numbers could still climb in the coming days.
Jobseekers can expect openings across 69 sites nationwide, with 14 job fair venues located in the National Capital Region alone, offering over 63,000 opportunities. Most job fairs are scheduled for May 1, although some will already begin on April 29 and 30, and continue until May 2.
The main event will be held at the SMX Convention Center, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while other job fairs will be hosted in malls around the country. Laguesma noted that partnering with major malls benefits applicants, as it shields them from harsh weather conditions. “Hindi na-e-expose sa mga elements ang mga jobseekers—‘di pinapawisan,” he remarked.
The upcoming job fairs come at a time of improving employment figures in the Philippines. The country’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in February, down from 4.3 percent in January, while underemployment also fell from 13.3 percent to 10.1 percent—a sign that more Filipinos are finding better-quality jobs.
