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MANILA—With thousands of jobseekers expected to troop to the Department of Labor and Employment’s nationwide job fairs on Thursday, Labor Day, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz urged employers to improve their hiring rates as a way of helping jobseekers, especially the fresh graduates, land jobs.
She urged employers to be flexible in considering “near hires” or applicants who are “nearly fit” for a job, but may be lacking in one or two qualifications that can be compensated for by an applicants’ other strong points.
“We will be grateful if employers participating in our job fairs on Labor Day can improve their hiring rates and increase the number of applicants hired on the spot, or HOTS,” Baldoz said.
“A ‘near-hire’ applicant, if given the chance, might quickly learn or acquire a ‘missing qualification’ if he/she is already on the job or may be through a short training,” she added.
There are currently three million unemployed Filipinos, and seven million underemployed, she said.
Baldoz said improving hiring rates is possible because the DOLE and its regional offices have announced early and extensively their job fair schedules using all available media and she had directed them to conduct advance registration and screening of applicants.
In the 2013 Labor Day jobs fair, out of the 127,880 registered jobseekers, a total of 20,905 applicants were hired on the spot and 96,838 more qualified.
Baldoz emphasized that the DOLE has remained consistent with its annual target of 15 percent hired on the spot out of the total number of qualified applicants.
Over 100,000 overseas and local jobs are available in the simultaneous job fairs that the DOLE will hold nationwide as part of the Labor Day celebration.
The 2014 Labor Day celebration carries the theme “Sa Sipag, Tiyaga, at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”
Baldoz said DOLE aims to recognize the invaluable contribution of all Filipino workers to the continued growth and resurgence of the Philippine economy.
“Through the job fairs, we hope to give workers the service they deserve by fast-tracking the matching of jobseekers and employers, particularly in identified areas where skills are highly in demand,” Baldoz said.
While encouraging employers to increase their hiring rate, Baldoz also advised jobseekers to increase their employability by working on their “soft skills,” which most employers are looking for in an applicant.
Soft skills include work attitude, commitment, work ethics, communication skills, time management abilities, and problem solving skills, to name a few.
Baldoz also advised jobseekers to brush up on relevant labor market information to help them map out their careers wisely, such as looking for occupations that fit their qualifications and inclinations, and to be ready with their resumes and other documentary requirements.
“This is one of the best ways you can match yourselves with productive opportunities or even be hired on the spot during job fairs,” Baldoz advised.
“For the first-time job seekers, another piece of advice I can give is to accept the first job that comes your way and which fit your qualifications. This is the way to earn experience and pick up job-ready skills,” she added.
She also urged jobseekers to research on the company they are interested in.
“Doing research will be a big help in the interviews,” she said.
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