Lack of skills surfaces as few get jobs in fairs

Job fair in SM City Davao. Photo by Karlos Manlupig/INQUIRER MINDANAO

DAVAO CITY—The results of the May 1 job fairs sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have only confirmed that most jobseekers do not have the corresponding skills for the jobs they were applying for or being offered by companies needing workers, a labor official said.

Venerando Sebrano, DOLE assistant director for Southern Mindanao, said out of the 8,453 jobseekers, who joined job fairs at SM City and Gaisano malls, only 547 were immediately hired by participating companies.

At least 1,820 others were being considered for hiring once they submit additional requirements, he said.

“Generally, lack of skills required,” Sebrano said when asked why so many jobseekers failed to land a job during the job fairs, considering that there were over 30,000 jobs offered at that time.

Sebrano said for example, the business process outsourcing industry (call centers) offered more than 3,000 jobs but only a few applicants were hired.

“Some companies also wanted experienced applicants,” he said.

Sebrano  said that there were more participating companies this year compared with last year.

He also said that last year, only 2,671 applicants took part in a job fair sponsored by DOLE.

“This year, the number tripled,” he said.

But Sebrano said “the marked increase in the number of applicants this year can be attributed to more publicity of the job fairs, economic boom particularly in the construction industry and growth (in number) of fresh graduates.”

As to those who failed to land jobs during the recent job fairs, Sebrano said they can always try their luck next time.

There are  about 20 job fairs annually, four of which are initiated by DOLE, he said.

But he said applicants should acquire the necessary skills to help them get jobs.

Jonathan Jadulang, specialist at the Technical Skills and Development Authority in Southern Mindanao, earlier said Tesda was willing to help jobseekers land better jobs, locally or abroad.

Jadulang said Tesda offered courses that jobseekers could enroll in. Tesda also issues certificates of competency to its graduates, which help them satisfy qualification requirements, he said.

Lizabel Holganza, president of Information and Communication Technology-Davao, said Tesda has a scholarship program that jobseekers could apply for.

In Davao City alone, she said Tesda had allocated P20 million in scholarship funds for those interested to join the call center industry and other ICT-related jobs. Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao