OVER 15,000 job seekers registered for work with various companies in Friday's Independence Day job fair held at the Rizal Park in Manila.
Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) data showed a total of 15,273 applicants applied for jobs. Of the number 12,488 are seeking jobs in the country while 2,785 are looking to be employed abroad.
Applicants who were hired-on-the spot totaled to 2,890, 2,692 were hired for local jobs while 198 are going to work abroad.
Nelson Hornilla, Dole-National Capital Region Assistant Director, said the companies that joined the job fair this year was down to 92 from 150 last year due to space limitation.
The Dole official said more than 33,000 local, overseas and government job vacancies were available during the job fair. More than 60 local employers, 25 licensed overseas employment agencies and six government agencies have participated in the event.
He said that 7,080 applicants were near hires with 5,729 and 1,351, for local and overseas jobs, respectively.
Hornilla said that aside from the job fair, the event also providing pre-employment service to jobseekers such as the processing of National Bureau of Investigation clearance, Social Security System, Pag-Ibig Fund among others.
Bureau of Local Employment director Dominique Tutay said the opening of classes and the many events being held on Friday in line with the 117th Independence Day celebration led to fewer applicants.
"Ang point of reference ko is the May 1 (job fair). Hindi yung last year (na Independence Day job fair). Kasi dagsa ang ating mga jobseekers kapag May 1. Di ko sure 'yung last year," Tutay said. (FP/Sunnex)