At A Glance
- DOLE will sustain monthly nationwide job fairs in 2026.
- Job fairs remain a key hiring channel, with thousands hired on the spot last year.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will sustain monthly nationwide job fairs in 2026 in a bid to drive employment and converting labor market gains into actual jobs.
The initiative follows the Labor Force Survey showing the employment rate at 95.6 percent in November 2025.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent in November from 5.0 percent in October.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the decline in unemployment mirrored increased economic activity and the availability of short-term work opportunities.
Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr. said DOLE will continue rolling out job fairs nationwide in 2026 under the Secretary’s directive.
He said nearly 2,000 job fair activities were held last year, resulting in around 74,000 applicants being hired on the spot.
DOLE also expects employment levels to improve further amid continued demand for part-time and temporary jobs during peak periods.
Laguesma said DOLE, in partnership with public and private stakeholders, remains focused on strengthening employment facilitation through the expanded reach of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs).