Job search
Employment fair set Oct. 22
By JESSICA KELLER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
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| Jim Trenkel (left), Idaho Department of Labor employee, concludes business with Vicki Fischer, Weiser, at the Idaho Department of Labor in Payette last week. The Department of Labor will be the site of this year’s Oregon-Idaho Career Fair, Oct. 22. |
PAYETTE — A little more than a year ago, employers in the western Treasure Valley and Eastern Oregon had more job openings than interested applicants.
Circumstances, however, have changed greatly this year, and Idaho Department of Labor manager Jim Smith said, because of downturns in various industries, the third annual Oregon-Idaho Career Fair could be busier than in the past.
The job fair, sponsored by the Idaho Department of Labor and Worksource Oregon Employment Department, is slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 22, at the Idaho Department of Labor building, 501 N.16th St., Payette. The fall job fair is geared toward adults, whereas a job fair directed toward youth is hosted in spring.
While the event has been held at Four Rivers Cultural Center in the past, scheduling conflicts led to the venue change.
Smith said, in the past, about 750 potential job searchers have attended the event, but because of the economic downturn and job layoffs in a variety of industries, including the recent announcement by Micron it was laying off 1,500 workers, more job seekers are looking for employment than usual.
“I would fully expect we could see 1,000 job seekers throughout the day, Oct. 22,” Smith said.
Typically, the job fair attracts workers in the agriculture and construction-related industries this time of year because of usual seasonal slow-downs, but this year more people are looking for jobs than average, he said.
“And we continue to see sporadic layoffs, and most of them are based around the construction industry,” Smith said.
As a result, Smith said, competition for available jobs is stiff, and, unfortunately, the number of employers looking to hire are fewer this year.
While, in past years, the job fair has featured 40 to 50 employers, this year, Smith estimates 20 employers will set up for the day.
“Well, the competition is horrendous for every position,” he said.
Because of that, Smith said, job seekers who attend the job fair should come prepared with completed resumes and be ready to talk to the employers, who will be looking for “the very best” applicants to hire.
Some of the anticipated employers are Snake River Correctional Institution, Holy Rosary Medical Center, The Cottages, Body Shop Fitness Center, the Carrot House, American Staffing, the U.S. military — fulltime service and National Guard, Community Partnerships and WICAP.
As with past years, Idaho Department of Labor employees will be available to answer questions about education and funding programs available to displaced workers and to check resumes. Smith also said the Department of Labor is open five days a week and has computers available for job seekers to use as well as staff who can answer questions.
“There’s a litany of things we may be able to help with,” Smith said.
