CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the country’s unemployment rate continues to drop as more industries take part in various job fairs conducted locally.
According to PSA data, over 1.89 million Filipinos are estimated to be unemployed. This was lower than the estimated number of unemployed persons at 2.26 million in September 2023 and 2.07 million in August 2024.
To the government’s initiative of generating more jobs for the people, local governments have been consistently holding job fairs to open more career opportunities.
The City Government of Calamba through its Information, Investment, Promotions and Employment Services Office (IIPESO) offered a wide array of employment opportunities across diverse industries with its first Grand Trabaho Expo.
During the event, Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal emphasized the importance of an expo in the city known for its economic activity and industrial growth.
“We aim Calamba to remain an economically active city by offering our citizens employment opportunities and of course, it is still part of our program to have a sustainable program for the people of Calamba and its neighboring municipalities,” Rizal said.
The unemployment rate in Calamba stands at nearly nine percent, prompting local authorities to organize job fairs like the Grand Trabaho Expo which featured over 80 companies that set up booths to conduct on-the-spot interviews, making it a convenient experience for both job seekers and companies.
Moreso, the event aims to match job seekers with potential employers, reducing the gap between available skills and industry needs.
The expo produced 602 new hires on the spot. For Carla Ojeda, the first hired-on-the-spot was thankful as the event will help her process her requirements with ease.
“I’m happy because through this job fair, I can now process my requirements immediately so thank you so much for this opportunity I can now help my family through this job,” she said.
The city operates a City Manpower Development Center (CMDC), which upskill job seekers to enhance their employability through various vocational courses, skills development programs, and certifications that would boost the city’s efforts to bring down unemployment and meet the growing demand for skilled labor in local industries.
The local government believes that the Grand Trabaho Expo is a step towards enhancing local employment and stimulate economic growth while forging collaboration amongst potential employers, jobseekers, and the government. (AM/PIA-4A)
