GENERAL SANTOS CITY – More than 1,200 jobseekers registered while at least 47 job applicants from various parts of Region 12 (Soccsksargen) were instantly hired during the 2019 regional Labor Day job and business fairs here Wednesday.
Sisinio Cano, Department of Labor and Employment-12 regional director, said Thursday the hired applicants were among the 1,231 job seekers who registered for the activity, which was held at the KCC Mall Convention and Events Center.
Cano said a total of 110 local companies and business establishments– as well as 22 overseas placement agencies–joined the job fair, offering over 7,000 job vacancies.
The official said some of the hired applicants were senior high school graduates who were holders of skills certificates.
Cano said they also recorded 113 applicants who were considered as “near hires” or have passed the screening by the employers.
“Some of these only need to submit some requirements or undergo additional processes set by the companies and establishments,” he told reporters.
As to the usual low number of job seekers who are hired-on-the-spot, he said the process is primarily dependent on the qualifications of the applicants and the need of the participating employers.
He acknowledged that “job mismatch” remains a problem in the region and the agency is continually addressing it through the academe and training institutions.
Cano said they have been working with guidance counselors of private and public schools in the area for the conduct of “career coaching” activities to guide students on their career options and the fields to pursue.
He said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been also aligning the skills training offered in the area to match the needs or requirements of local industries.
During the event, hundreds of job seekers availed of the entrepreneurial learning sessions and skills demonstrations offered by the Department of Trade and Industry and TESDA as part of the government’s “Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan” strategy.
Cano said they released some PHP5.5 million worth of livelihood assistance that will benefit around 400 poor and marginalized workers in Soccsksargen.
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
