The Manila Times
MORE than 115,000 job opportunities await Filipino employment seekers as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) rolls out nationwide job fairs for the Labor Day celebration on May 1, 2026, one of the largest coordinated hiring events in recent years. The initiative will bring together job seekers and employers under one roof, in several venues nationwide. As of April 23, DOLE has identified at least 88 job fair venues nationwide, most of them strategically located in major malls and accessible public spaces to ensure convenience, high foot traffic, and wider reach. Labor officials said the number of job vacancies currently stands at 115,358, offered by 1,280 participating local employers. These figures are still expected to rise as more companies confirm their participation in the days leading up to Labor Day. Opportunities span a wide range of industries, reflecting both traditional and emerging labor demands. Among the sectors with the highest number of openings are wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, construction, business process outsourcing (BPO), and accommodation and food services. In retail, companies are urgently hiring stock clerks and sales associates to meet growing consumer demand. The manufacturing sector is seeking production operators and factory workers, while the construction industry continues to require skilled workers, such as carpenters, foremen, and steelmen, in ongoing infrastructure projects. The BPO sector remains a major employer, with thousands of openings for customer service representatives, while the hospitality industry is ramping up hiring for service crew, line cooks, and baristas as tourism and dining activities rebound. DOLE underscored that the nationwide job fairs support the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in addressing unemployment and poverty by accelerating job matching and reintegrating workers into productive sectors of the economy. Job seekers are encouraged to seize the opportunity being offered at the one-day hiring processes in several sites, with some employers expected to conduct on-the-spot interviews and even issue immediate job offers to qualified candidates. To streamline the application process, job seekers are advised to come prepared with multiple copies of their resumes, valid identification cards, and other necessary documents. In the National Capital Region alone, several major venues will host job fairs on May 1, including SMX Convention Center, Robinsons Manila, Ayala Malls Circuit Makati, and the Quezon City MICE Center, among others, with additional schedules extending into May in select locations. Similar large-scale job fair activities will take place in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, covering key cities and provinces — from Baguio and Laoag to Cebu, Davao, and General Santos — ensuring that opportunities are accessible even outside Metro Manila. Some regions have also scheduled extended or follow-up job fairs beyond May 1, signaling sustained efforts to connect job seekers with employers beyond the Labor Day celebration. The 124th Labor Day carries the theme “Disenteng Trabaho para sa Lahat: Iisang Hangarin, Bagong Pilipinas Sama-samang Mararating,” reinforcing the government’s push for inclusive growth and quality employment for all Filipinos. With thousands of vacancies waiting to be filled, DOLE is urging the public to seize the opportunity, emphasizing that the nationwide job fairs are not just a celebration — but a concrete pathway to employment and economic recovery.
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