Nearly 75,000 job seekers secured employment in 2025 through government-led job fairs, highlighting the continued role of large-scale hiring events in connecting unemployed workers with immediate job opportunities amid a softer labour market.Data from the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) showed that 74,564 applicants were hired on the spot after participating in 2,176 job fairs held nationwide as of November 2025. The fairs formed part of DOLE’s regular employment facilitation efforts, including its commitment to organise job fairs on a monthly basis across the country.
In total, more than 529,000 job seekers took part in the job fairs in 2025, underscoring sustained demand for employment support and accessible hiring channels, particularly for workers seeking immediate placement.
The hiring outcomes come against a backdrop of rising unemployment. According to the October 2025 Labour Force Survey, the Philippines’ unemployment rate increased to 5.0%, up from 3.9% in October 2024. In absolute terms, the number of unemployed individuals rose to an estimated 2.54 million in October 2025, compared with 1.97 million a year earlier.Against this context, DOLE said job fairs remain a key intervention to shorten job-search periods and facilitate faster workforce absorption, especially for displaced workers, new labour market entrants and those seeking local employment opportunities.
The figures highlight both the scale of labour market pressure in 2025 and the importance of sustained hiring initiatives in supporting workforce participation and employment recovery.