Only 14 jobseekers hired on the spot at DOLE job fair

ILOILO – Out of over 800 job hunters who flocked the May 1 Labor Day job fair of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at a mall in Mandurriao district, only 14 were hired on the spot.

Ac c o r d i n g t o J o h n Mandariao, i nformation officer of DOLE Region 6, the 14 jobseekers were hired by local companies looking for merchandisers, sales associates, clerks, customer assistants.

But there were also “near hires” – 64 of them were being considered by local companies; 14 others were being considered for overseas work.

A total of 874 job hunters participated in the job fair which made available over 10,000 jobs from 28 local companies and agencies abroad.

The job vacancies were for service providers, factory workers, office workers, machine operators, customer service representatives, a c c o u n t i n g o f f i c e r s , administrative assistants, and human resource managers; s a l es, purchasing and marketing staff; construction workers, heavy equipment operator and engineers.

Job placement agencies for work a broad, meanwhile,

looked for registered nurses, physical therapists, senior carers and hotel staff in the United State of America, Kuwait, United Kingdom, and Macau.

During the job fair, the regional director of the

Department of Trade and Industry ( DTI) in Western Visayas underscored to job hunters and even to those a l r eady employed t he importance of “upskilling”.

This will open better job opportunities, said Rebecca

Rascon.

The Philippine Statistics Authority ( PSA) Region 6 earlier reported that the underemployment rate in Region 6 in 2021 doubled from 2020’s rate.

Na t i o n a l Ec o n o m i c

Development Authority ( NEDA) regional director Meylene Rosales said the underemployment or number of workers who need longer working hours or higher paying jobs as they settle with part-time arrangement

increased by 105 percent in 2021.

“Kon may skill ka, you will get better opportunities kon mag- apply ka. If you don’t have improved skills, you’ll end up

said Rascon./

Job hunters undergo interview during the May 1 Labor Day job fair at a mall in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. During the job fair, the Department of Trade and Industry in Western Visayas underscored to job hunters and even to those already employed the importance of “upskilling”.