1,148 SHS graduates hired at Labor Day 2026 fairs - DepEd

At least 1,148 Senior High School (SHS) graduates were hired on the spot during nationwide Labor Day Job Fairs, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday, as the agency touted the employability and workforce readiness of graduates under the K to 12 program.

DepEd said the new hires came from around 11,000 SHS graduates who participated in the job fairs conducted nationwide in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

According to the department, the results demonstrate that the K to 12 curriculum can provide graduates with immediate employment opportunities and open pathways toward financial independence.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said providing immediate employment opportunities for graduates is among the government’s strategies to help address poverty and improve economic mobility for young Filipinos.

“Layunin nating mas mapalawak pa ang mga oportunidad na ito upang bawat mag-aaral na magtatapos ng Senior High School ay may sapat na kakayahan at kumpiyansa na makakuha ng disenteng trabaho (We aim to further expand these opportunities so that every SHS graduate will have the skills and confidence to secure decent employment),” he said.

DepEd attributed part of the initiative’s success to the dedicated “Green Lanes” established jointly by DepEd and DOLE during the Labor Day Job Fairs.

The express lanes allowed SHS graduates to bypass long queues by presenting only a school ID or certificate of completion, simplifying the hiring process for first-time jobseekers.

The initiative builds on the earlier rollout of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in March, where over 1,400 SHS and Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates were also hired on the spot through similar one-stop employment hubs.

DepEd added that around 5,900 graduates also received free pre-employment documents such as NBI and police clearances under the First-Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, which waives government fees for first-time job applicants. —VBL, GMA News