In an increasingly competitive global economy, the most decisive investments a nation can make are those that create jobs, strengthen skills, and widen opportunities for its people. The government’s growing collaboration with the private sector—anchored on the Public Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) and its partners—demonstrates how shared purpose can translate into measurable impact.

Through the Trabaho Para sa Bayan or J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) program, more than 5,000 job fairs have been mounted nationwide, connecting employers and jobseekers on an unprecedented scale. This expansive reach shows that when government and industry combine strengths, employment generation becomes not only a policy aspiration but a concrete, nationwide movement.

These job fairs are more than events. They signal a shift toward a jobs ecosystem that is accessible, inclusive, and strategically aligned with both present and future workforce demands. With PSAC helping mobilize companies across sectors and regions, jobseekers are no longer constrained by location or limited industry exposure. The continued expansion of these job fairs—supported by local government units, business chambers, and educational institutions—reflects a shared recognition that employment is the most powerful social equalizer.

Essential to this ecosystem is the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program. While job fairs match workers with employers, TUPAD steps in where livelihoods have been disrupted or where vulnerable sectors need immediate income relief. Offering short-term emergency employment, TUPAD helps restore dignity and stability to thousands of families. It has become a lifeline for informal workers, seasonal laborers, and those affected by disasters or economic shocks. In many instances, beneficiaries transition to more stable jobs after TUPAD, helped by skills acquired during their temporary employment and by linkages created through DOLE’s local offices.

The effectiveness of these initiatives is magnified when public institutions embrace innovation. Here, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has become a pivotal partner. Its collaboration with job-generation initiatives has given rise to the Job Fair + E-Hub career festivals, one of the most promising models of modern workforce development.

The concept is simple but transformative. Combine traditional job fairs with digital tools that help jobseekers create résumés, access online job platforms, register for upskilling courses, and explore career pathways in high-growth sectors such as IT-BPM, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and e-commerce.

A prime example of this synergy is the partnership with SM Malls, whose nationwide presence has turned them into accessible hubs for employment and digital empowerment. By hosting Job Fair + E-Hub events, SM provides convenient venues for millions of Filipinos—especially youth, OFW families, and workers shifting careers—to engage employers, attend on-site trainings, and get connected to digital resources that enhance their competitiveness. This collaboration also reflects a forward-looking business philosophy: companies flourish when communities thrive, and communities thrive when their people are equipped for meaningful work.

These partnerships underscore an important truth: employment generation is not the responsibility of government alone. It requires the collective effort of employers, educators, local leaders, digital innovators, and civil society. As the country prepares for greater integration into regional and global markets, we must continue strengthening programs that bridge skills gaps, encourage entrepreneurship, support displaced workers, and help our people move confidently across the evolving world of work.

Sustaining momentum is key. More job fairs, deeper digital integration, expanded upskilling programs, and better support systems for vulnerable workers will ensure that opportunities reach every Filipino, regardless of background or geography. When government and the private sector work as one, jobs multiply, skills improve, and the Filipino worker steps forward—not only ready for today’s challenges, but prepared to shape tomorrow’s economy.