CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region IV-A is set to offer more than 21,614 job opportunities on May 1 during its Labor Day job fairs.
According to lawyer Erwin Aquino, Regional Director of DOLE Region IV-A, job opportunities in the region have continued to grow over time due to the steady rise of various industries and businesses in Calabarzon.
One of the major contributing sectors is manufacturing particularly electronics and semiconductors, automotive parts, and food processing, as large companies and export processing zones are located in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.
“Some of the leading and highest-contributing sectors here in the region include manufacturing, particularly in electronics and semiconductors, automotive parts, and food processing because large companies and export processing zones are located in areas of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. This significantly contributes to our regional economy,” Aquino said.
Aside from the manufacturing sector, the construction industry also contributes significantly, driven by the rise of infrastructure projects in the region.
While agriculture is not as large as manufacturing, it remains a vital sector, especially in the provinces of Quezon and Batangas, where agricultural production remains high.
There are six job fair sites in the region this year located at SM City Santo Tomas in Batangas, SM City San Pedro and Grandshoppe Center Cabuyao in Laguna, SM Taytay and Robinsons Place Antipolo in Rizal and Robinsons Place Imus in Cavite.
Applicants can also avail one-stop-shop services from various government agencies, including PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG).
The labor department director emphasized that the gradual increase in the minimum wage in the region, which varies depending on the sector and location, encourages more Filipinos to apply for work.
He added: “The increase in the minimum wage in the region is also a significant achievement. In 2023 and 2024, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board IV-A implemented consecutive wage hikes for workers, which currently range from Php450 to Php560.”
Based on the January 2025 employment data, Calabarzon has a 93.9 percent-employment rate. Although it represents a decline from 94.7 percent in April 2024, Calabarzon continues to gain recognition for its abundant job opportunities due to its proximity to Metro Manila and the local and international investments that continuously enter the region. (CO/PIA-4A)
