ILOILO – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is optimistic that the upcoming 122nd Labor Day Job Fair will significantly improve the employment rate in Western Visayas. The fair, scheduled for this Wednesday, May 1, will offer over 12,000 job vacancies across various sectors.
“Our hope is that through this job fair and future ones, we can further enhance the employment situation in the region. We don’t want poverty here; our dream is to help everyone succeed. This isn’t just DOLE’s job; it’s everyone’s job,” said Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., the regional director of DOLE.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports a steady improvement in the region’s employment rate, with the latest figures from October 2023 showing an employment rate of 96.6 percent. This represents a 1.7 percentage point increase from the same period in 2022.
The total number of employed persons in October 2023 was 3,418,000 out of a labor force of 3,538,000.
“The employment rate’s improvement is due to the infusion of funds by the national government post-COVID-19 to rejuvenate the economy,” explained Rodriguez.
The unemployment rate also saw a decline, dropping to 3.4 percent in October 2023, a decrease from 5.1 percent in October 2022. In terms of number, this was 120,000 jobless persons in October 2023 from 182,000 in October 2022.
Melisa Navarra, assistant director of DOLE Region 6, added, “While we don’t have a specific percentage target for on-the-spot hires, we’ve oriented and encouraged employers participating in the job fair to maximize immediate employment opportunities.”
The fair will be hosted across five provinces in key locations, aiming to make it more accessible to residents within their own regions and reduce the need to travel. These venues include:
* Northwestern Visayan Colleges Gym in Aklan
* Robinsons’ Place in Roxas City
* Buenavista Gymnasium in Guimaras
* Robinsons’ Place Iloilo on Ledesma Street, Iloilo City
* SM City in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
In addition to job matchmaking, the event will feature various activities such as skills demonstrations in barista training, first aid, and robotics.
There will also be a “KADIWA ng Pangulo” market event with 360 sellers and a payout for the Government Internship Program stipends to 132 beneficiaries.
Overall, more than 172 employers have committed to participate, offering a mixture of local and overseas positions, enhancing prospects for job seekers throughout the region./PN
