DOLE: Over 3,000 job seekers hired at PH Independence Day fairs

More than 3,000 job seekers were hired on-the-spot during nationwide Independence Day job fairs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). 

Based on the initial data from DOLE, a total of 25,876 individuals registered for the massive job fairs held across 50 sites in the country on June 12. 

A total of 3,364 applicants were hired on the spot, of which 274 were senior high school (SHS) graduates, one was a person with a disability (PWD), and 10 were Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program beneficiaries. 

They were hired for various positions such as cashier, service crew, production operator, ESL teacher, bagger, sales associate, clerk, production crew, loan officer, and store clerk. 

Meanwhile, the Labor Department said about 4,676 job seekers were classified as near-hires, pending final evaluations or document submission, while 21,419 were deemed fully qualified for the available positions. 

The DOLE last week announced it would conduct a nationwide job fair in commemoration of Independence Day. 

A total of 1,573 employers across the country participated in the event, offering 153,187 local and overseas job vacancies in the industries of manufacturing, retail, business process outsourcing (BPO), accommodation, and financial/ insurance activities. 

Top vacancies include production operators, sales clerks, call center representatives, service crews, and microfinance officers.

The number of unemployed Filipinos aged 15 and up stands at about 1.94 million, or about 3.8% of the population, based on February 2025 data recently reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The figure for underemployment—or those who wish to have additional hours of work, another job, or a new job with longer hours of work, is at 10.1%.

The government has reported improvements in these areas compared to January 2025 figures. — VDV, GMA Integrated News