Four job fairs slated on Labor Day

CEBU, Philippines - Four job fairs will be happening simultaneously in Cebu on Labor Day, May 1.

The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas announced its Cebu provincial office in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Capitol will hold a local job fair from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall.

Likewise, DOLE's Tri-city office in coordination with PESO Cebu City and PESO Lapu-Lapu City will also have their local and overseas job fairs at the Abellana Sports Complex and in Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City, respectively.

Cebu City’s megawide local and overseas job fair and Lapu-Lapu City’s local and overseas job fairs will start from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

SM City Cebu in North Reclamation Area will also facilitate a local job fair, which will be available to the public from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The labor agency advised job seekers to pre-register at the philjobnet.gov.ph or at their nearest PESO office in their areas before May 1 to avoid delays during the job fair.

Job applicants are also advised to come in proper attire and bring multiple copies of their resumes, certificates of employment, transcript of records, clearance, photos, and other pertinent pre-employment documents needed by employers.

Jobless rate

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Central Visayas' unemployment rate was at 4.6 percent in January 2017, lower than the national average of 6.6 percent in the same period.

This was also lower from 5.1 percent and 5.7 percent recorded in October 2016 and January 2016, respectively.

Based on PSA's latest Labor Force Survey (LFS), unemployment rate in the whole country jumped to 6.6 percent in January 2017 from 5.8 percent in the same month last year and 4.7 percent in October 2016.

However, Region-7 remains to be among the regions with high employment rates.

The National Economic and Development Authority had said that 93.4 percent employment rate translated into 39.3 million employed Filipinos in January, lower than 40.6 million employed in the same month a year ago.

Meanwhile, the 115th year commemoration of Labor Day is observed with the theme 'Matatag na Kabuhayan at Trabaho tungo sa Progresibong Pagbabago.'

Labor Day, a regular holiday, is celebrated to give recognition and honor to the sacrifices and hard work of the Filipino workingmen. (FREEMAN)