DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 03 May) – Jobs mismatch has been blamed for the small number of job applicants who were hired during the Labor Day Job and Business Fair on May 1 to 2 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao.
Only 238 of the 5,174 jobseekers interviewed during the job fair were hired. And of those interviewed, only 2,540 were considered qualified – 1,859 for local employment and 578 for overseas jobs – data released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11 showed.
Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Arturo Milan urged government to look for solutions to the jobs mismatch in the region to address the demand for a qualified workforce.
“There is something that doesn’t fit. This is where the government, I should say, should look into and try to develop the skills that is really needed in the market,” he added.
He surmised that jobs mismatch is worsened by the unavailability of specific jobs that some unemployed individuals look for.
“That’s why, the chamber is promoting for more investments to come into the city so that our graduates don’t have to go to Manila, don’t have to go to Cebu to look for decent jobs. We are trying to get them here,” he said.
He also urged the job applicants to upgrade their skills to increase their employability.
Milan said the city lacks workers in the construction industry with the massive infrastructure program of the current administration.
“That’s why, our TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) is trying to upgrade our schools so that that they become competitive,” he added.
DOLE reported a total of 12,532 jobs during the two-day job fair.
The top 10 jobs for local employment were masons, 1,205; call center workers, 605; carpenters, 598; tile setters, 402; rebarmen/ steelmen, 144; sales clerks/associates, 128; service crews, 113; marketing professionals, 100; foremen, 70; and management trainees, 54.
While the top 10 jobs for overseas employment were nurses, 2,671; cleaners, 702; sales associates, 200; service crews, 200; caregivers, 200; waiters/waitresses, 190; assistant herd managers for New Zealand, 174; delivery drivers, 150; mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers, 139; and welders, 125.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Davao Region’s employment rate as of January 2018 was 95.3 percent, higher compared to the 94.1 percent recorded in the same period last year.
During the event, the agency awarded projects worth P10.6 million to 26 groups, comprising 74 individuals, as beneficiaries of its Integrated Livelihood Program. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)