Tourism jobs abound, but there are no takers

MANILA, Philippines – Jobs abound in the country, but there are only few takers.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said tourism-related companies and other commercial establishments nationwide are offering so many jobs, but only few are applying.

Durano said that in yesterday’s “Trabaho sa Turismo” job fair, more than 25,000 jobs were up for grabs, yet only 15,000 new graduates and other jobseekers arrived and applied for vacancies.

“There are more vacancies than job applicants so the possibility of being hired is higher,” Durano pointed out.

About 300 companies participated in the annual job fair, which the DOT initiated in 2006 in an effort to facilitate the immediate employment of new graduates and other jobseekers.

Last year, 175 companies offered 18,000 jobs while more than 10,000 applied for the vacancies.

Some of the applicants who were hired on the spot last year disputed misconception among new graduates that they would have difficulty finding jobs due to lack of experience.

Sherein Gaviola, who is employed as desk officer at Sofitel Philippine Plaza said she just walked in to the jobs fair, submitted her resume and was hired even without experience.

Meantime, one of the jobseekers, Aileen Nidua, said she is now looking for local employment after working abroad while computer science graduate Marlon Junio said he is willing to accept whatever local job that will suit his skills.

Officials of JobsDB.com, one of the DOT’s partners in the project, said there is no need for new graduates and other jobseekers to apply abroad because thousands of jobs are available locally.

“There is more risk if you will work abroad, so it would be better if you will apply for local jobs,” one of the officials added.

This year’s job fair, Durano said, is more significant mainly because the country is hurdling the adverse effects of the global economic crisis that has resulted in displacement of 50,000 workers in the country.

“We are happy that the industry can ably stand up to the challenge, sustaining the flow of tourists, attracting investments and creating jobs across the country,” Durano said. – Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star