Around 65,000 participants in the government’s 1,800 job fairs nationwide were hired on the spot in 2024, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon forum, DOLE Secretary Bievenido Laguesma said 400,000 job seekers have registered in the job fairs organized by the agency with the help of the local government units (LGUs).

“Actually, last year if my memory serves me right, there were some 1,800 jobs fairs conducted nationwide, with the help of Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) of every local government unit,” he said.

“More than 400,000 participated in the said jobs fair and what is called hired-on-the-spot or those after the process, they have already got a job, some 65,000,” he added.

Among the major jobs offered were in the retail service and manufacturing sector sectors.

Emerging market

Laguesma said that aside from retail and manufacturing sectors, the government is looking at emerging markets for employment.

“Karamihan ng emerging nakikita natin ay may kinalaman sa digital economy, IT (information technology), may kinalaman din sa care economy iyong healthcare sector at siyempre may bahagi diyan iyong tinatawag din natin ngayon na green economy at saka blue economy (Most of the emerging [markets] that we see have something to do with the digital economy, IT [information technology], care economy the healthcare sector, and of course there is what we now call the green economy and also the blue economy),” he said.

“Ito iyong mga nakikita na maaaring makadagdag ng mga trabaho para sa ating mga manggagawa (These are the sectors that we believe can produce more jobs for our workers),” he added.

TUPAD

Meanwhile, Laguesma assured the public that only eligible individuals will benefit from the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) ahead of the campaign period for the May 2025 polls.

He said stricter guidelines have been set so that only qualified individuals can avail of the DOLE emergency employment program for displaced workers.

“We want to make sure that all beneficiaries are indeed eligible or qualified beneficiaries in accordance with our guidelines,” he added.

Laguesma made the assurance amid concerns that politicians may use the TUPAD program during the campaign period for the May 12 mid-term elections.

TUPAD is an emergency employment assistance, wherein displaced workers are hired by the government for a limited period of community work.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections exempted nine social services programs of the DOLE, including TUPAD, from the election spending ban. (PNA)