Davao City’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) is set to offer a wide range of job opportunities with over 4,000 vacancies at the April 8 Job Fair. Aimed at connecting local job seekers to prospective employers, the event will be held at the NCCC Victoria Plaza and will feature participation from 31 companies—21 local firms and 10 overseas employers.

Lilibeth Pantinople, PESO head, shared during the I-Speak media forum that the local companies will be offering 2,403 vacancies, while overseas employers will provide 1,782 vacancies. This diverse pool of job openings caters to various sectors, giving job seekers a broad selection of opportunities.

Pantinople also highlighted that the event is expected to attract a large crowd, especially with many fresh graduates entering the job market. “We expect a lot of job seekers as we know that many graduates are looking for employment,” Pantinople said, emphasizing the importance of the event in addressing local employment needs.

The upcoming Job Fair is part of ongoing efforts to reduce unemployment in the city. PESO Davao is also planning another job fair on May 1 in celebration of Labor Day. Both job fairs are designed to provide job seekers with access to a range of job openings, both in the public and private sectors.

The event is timely, as labor statistics show positive improvements in the city’s employment figures. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey, Davao City’s employment rate increased from 97.1% in October 2023 to 97.5% in October 2024, while the unemployment rate decreased from 2.9% to 2.5% during the same period. These improvements reflect the positive impact of PESO’s continuous employment facilitation initiatives.

In 2023, Davao City registered 67,562 job vacancies, with 34,870 successful hires, while 2024 saw 55,949 job vacancies, resulting in 33,128 hires. PESO continues to work diligently to reduce unemployment by offering services like job fairs and job placements to help connect residents with employment opportunities.

Job seekers are encouraged to stay updated and follow the PESO Davao Facebook Page for job vacancies and event updates. The upcoming April 8 Job Fair provides an excellent opportunity for job seekers to secure employment in both local and international job markets.