Unemployed hopefuls troop to job fairs on Labor Day

CEBU, Philippines - The crowded job fairs on Labor Day are clear proof that a large number of unemployed Filipinos still continue to struggle to find a decent and stable work.

In fact, government data says the unemployment rate in the Philippines has jumped by 7.5% or nearly 3 million individuals without jobs as of January this year, making job fairs across the country increasingly more crowded.

The jobseekers have joined the queue for employment benefits as the Department of Labor and Employment organized yesterday 69 local and overseas simultaneous job fairs in 16 regions nationwide.

In Cebu, four job fairs took place in different areas: Cebu City Sports Complex, SM Cebu, SM Consolacion and Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Hopeful

The FREEMAN interviewed a few jobseekers lining up at the Provincial Capitol job fair yesterday on how confident they are to get a job.

Some of them said they would just not be 'picky' on the kind of work they want but rather take any employment opportunities that the fair has offered to them, emphasizing that what matters to them now is the desire to help their family and get away from being jobless.

"Nanghinaot gyod ko especially my parents nga tua sa probinsiya nga makakita ko og trabaho," (My parents and I are really hoping that I will find a job) said 21-year-old Ma. Sunshine Anor, who arrived in the city yesterday from the municipality of Alcoy just to join the thousands who desired to get employed.

Anor, who just graduated recently from high school, opted to look for a job because her parents could no longer support her college education.

Although she admitted that her situation now is not something she envisioned for herself, but her only choice is to make the best of what life can offer to her.

Having been a working student throughout her high school life, Anor said working is no longer a new thing for her.

"Sayo kaayo ko dinhi alas singko kay giplano na man ni nako kay gusto gyod mo trabaho," (I arrived at around 5 am as I already planned this because I really need a job) said another jobseeker.

Another hopeful said: "Mangita lang ko karon unsay maayo para nako basta ang importante kana bitaw’ng makakita lang og source of income."

Fresh graduates

The government expected that majority of the applicants would be fresh graduates from college and high school, said Dr. Mathea Baguia, consultant on employment services of the government's Public Employment Services Office.

Although most companies would require a college experience from their applicants, Baguia said  a number of opportunities are likewise in store for high school graduates. They can work as sales clerk, bagger, food crew, delivery driver, helpers, carpenter, laborers among others.

They can also be employed  in the construction industry, she added, saying, "If they have the skills there's no reason nga dili sila madawat."

She said the commercial sector that includes department stores and fast food chains had the most job vacancies available making up 5 percent of the total job openings.

Other key employment generators include the manufacturing, construction, hotel, information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries, Baguia told The FREEMAN.

With a total of 2,631 job vacancies, 41 various companies participated in yesterday's job fair at the Capitol sponsored by the provincial government of Cebu.

The consultant also said the jobseekers have been very responsive and eager to take chances in job fairs where companies from different industries unite to look for potential and deserving employees.

Applying in a job fair, she added, is relatively more convenient on the part of the applicant because the procedures have already been known.

"The truth is it's not easy if you apply directly to the company because of the strict security," she noted. "In job fairs, they can easily be interviewed and they don't have to go to the company already."

Competitive job market

Workers have to be more flexible and develop themselves to challenge the job market which is getting competitive and improving slightly, Baguia advised.

Being flexible also helps them to adjust easily on changing jobs that are available on the labor force market.

"The attitude and behavior of the worker really matters," she added. "That's why they should value their work since they are here looking for one."

Based on experience, the PESO consultant also revealed that more than 200 jobseekers are usually hired on the spot by companies on local job fairs whereas with overseas applicants, on-the-spot hiring is unlikely as they usually have more stringent requirements.

Moreover, different government agencies also put up a one-stop shop for applicants needing SSS, NSO, NBI, police clearance, Pag-IBIG and PhilHealth.

Meanwhile, Baguia also advised those who failed to get a job in yesterday's job fairs to not give up easily as applying for a job really requires persistence, hard work and confidence.

She even urged them to go to any PESO office in their place to seek for employment help.  (FREEMAN)