PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government (Pemkot) once again brought job seekers and the business world together through the Future Connect 2026 North Bandung Job Fair held at Graha Sanusi Hardjadinata, Padjadjaran University (Unpad) on Friday (August 28, 2028). Twenty-five companies presented a total of 2,384 job openings for the public.

The Head of the Bandung City Manpower Office (Disnaker), Yayan Ahmad Brilyana, said that job fairs are one of the government's efforts to match the needs of companies with job seekers, both directly and through digital platforms.

"This event is held almost every month. Some are online and some are offline. The goal is to connect job seekers and employers, making it easier for people to find jobs and for companies to find workers," he said.

According to Yayan, participating companies come from various sectors, from banking and technology to job training institutions. Some companies are even offering hundreds of positions. He cited Bank bjb, which has around 50 openings, and BCA, which is seeking approximately 700 workers.

However, Yayan revealed that companies have presented a number of challenges, particularly regarding the characteristics of younger job seekers. Based on feedback from the business world, many job seekers seek comfortable positions and high salaries without going through the career development process from the bottom up.

"There's no such thing as a quick, high-paying job. We have to work our way up from the bottom, step by step," he said.

Yayan also responded to various comments on social media that dismissed job fairs as mere formalities. He stated that these events have a real impact because many companies are truly in need of workers.

"This isn't a formality. The large companies attending truly need talent to support their business continuity," he said.

As a form of accountability, the Bandung City Manpower Office recorded that 610 job seekers had been recruited through various job fairs previously held. This data was derived from company reports submitted through the e-employment service system (New Bimma).

In addition to expanding employment opportunities for the general public, the Manpower Office (Disnaker) also continues to encourage companies to increase their employment of disabled workers. To date, the number of disabled workers employed has reached 554.

"We thank the companies that consistently provide opportunities for people with disabilities. We must continue to pursue our targets," said Yayan.

Meanwhile, Bandung City Council Speaker Asep Mulyadi praised the job fair, which he considered a crucial platform for connecting businesses with prospective workers. He noted that employment issues remain a development challenge that requires collaboration between various parties.

According to him, the success of today's job seekers is not solely dependent on a diploma, but also requires adaptability, creativity, discipline, and a strong willingness to learn. Today's workplace demands human resources who are prepared to face change and increasingly fierce competition.

Asep also invited the young generation of Bandung City to not only be oriented towards being job seekers, but to start considering entrepreneurship as an alternative in creating new jobs.

"I encourage the younger generation to focus not only on finding work but also on creating jobs through entrepreneurship and the creative economy," he said.

(Bandung City Communications and Information Service/rka)