Thousands of job seekers converged at SM City Davao Annex on Friday for the 124th Labor Day Job Fair organized by the Department of Labor and Employment Region 11 (DOLE 11), underscoring strong demand for work across key industries.
The event featured thousands of local and overseas job opportunities, with the bulk of vacancies in the business process outsourcing (BPO), retail, and construction sectors.
DOLE 11 Regional Director lawyer Randolf C. Pensoy, speaking at the Kapihan sa NCCC on Thursday, highlighted the scale of the initiative and the agency’s broader employment push across the region.
At the Davao City leg alone, Pensoy said 27 employers participated, offering a total of 2,743 job openings.
He added that the Labor Day effort extends region-wide, with multiple job fairs taking place simultaneously.
“Across the region, we have six job fairs, with 97 participating employers and a total of 5,724 vacancies,” he said.
Pensoy emphasized that the Labor Day activities go beyond job matching, incorporating various government assistance programs aimed at supporting vulnerable workers.
“These include the ceremonial awarding of the Government Internship Program (GIP), livelihood assistance, and aid under the TUPAD or Emergency Employment Program,” he said.
He noted that priority beneficiaries include workers affected by economic disruptions, particularly those impacted by the state of energy emergency.
The Labor Day Job Fair is part of DOLE’s ongoing efforts to expand employment access, assist displaced workers, and strengthen livelihood opportunities across the Davao Region.
