CALAPAN CITY: The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is currently holding a job fair on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Calapan City, offering over 1,200 local and overseas job opportunities to residents of Oriental Mindoro province.

The event, part of TESDA’s 30th anniversary celebrations, aims to connect job seekers with 14 participating companies and recruitment agencies offering positions across various industries and skill levels.

According to documents seen by Mindoro Today, the job fair will feature seven local companies and establishments offering 331 job vacancies, as well as four overseas recruitment agencies with 895 job openings abroad.

Local opportunities include 120 production operator positions at PKI Manufacturing and Technology Inc, and various roles in retail, hospitality, and construction with companies like ARAM Group, Mindoro Harvest Energy Co, and Citimall Island Mall.

For jobseekers looking to work overseas, First Northern International Placement Inc is recruiting for 420 positions in Thailand, Germany, Bahrain, and Qatar. Roles include teachers, nurses, beauticians, and caregivers.

Earthsmart Human Resource Philippines Inc is hiring for 74 positions with United Equipment Group and other companies in Qatar, including crane operators, accountants, and various technical roles.

Anchor International Manpower Services Inc has 80 openings for carpenters, masons, plumbers and other construction-related jobs in the Pacific islands.

Multi-Resources Development Corporation is recruiting for 321 positions in Japan, including livestock farm workers, welders, scaffolders, and painters.

TESDA said TESDA-trained graduates will have an advantage, as many positions require TESDA certification, especially for overseas deployment.

The job fair comes as the country continues to deal with high unemployment rates. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment rate stood at 4.5% in May 2024, with about 2.3 million Filipinos unemployed.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain a key source of employment and remittances for the country.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that OFW remittances reached a record high of $36.14 billion in 2023, accounting for about 8.9% of the country’s gross domestic product.

However, the deployment of OFWs has yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reported that OFW deployment in 2023 was still about 25% below 2019 figures.

Against this backdrop, TESDA’s job fair aims to provide much-needed employment opportunities for residents of Oriental Mindoro, one of the less economically developed provinces in the MIMAROPA region.

The event will be held from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Bulwagang Panlalawigan, Provincial Capitol Complex in Calapan City. Job seekers are advised to bring multiple copies of their resume, valid ID, and any relevant certifications or diplomas.

TESDA officials noted that all participating companies and recruitment agencies have been vetted and are duly licensed by appropriate government agencies.