With an unemployment rate about 22 percent, organizers of the
Expo and Job Fair in Hollister last week knew more focus needed to
be put on giving the unemployed jobs.
With an unemployment rate about 22 percent, organizers of the Expo and Job Fair in Hollister last week knew more focus needed to be put on giving the unemployed jobs.
For the first time, the Expo and Job Fair portion of the event Thursday hosted at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister were separated, hoping to attract the unemployed to the 75 or more job openings.
“They are great jobs,” Economic Development Corp. President Nancy Martin said. “There are a number of great jobs.”
The event gathered 70 businesses for the expo and another 28 for the job fair.
Outside under a white tent, the job fair attracted 28 business and more than 75 jobs, and the tent was kept busy all day.
“It’s been extremely busy,” said Lorena Victorino from Gilroy Gardens. “We’ve run out of applications.”
A constant flow of people, both young and old, walked through the tent filling out applications and talking to employers that ranged from McDonald’s to the county.
The job fair was run by the One-Stop Career Center and the County of San Benito Health and Human Services Agency, and organizers estimated nearly 1,600 people went through the tent.
“I didn’t think it would be so many people at all times,” One-Stop Career Center employee David Montes said. “It usually goes in waves – It’s been steady throughout.”
One-Stop Career Center plans on following up on the 28 businesses on how many people they hired after the fair.
“From my experience, the next two to three weeks will give us a better indication since many employers call back their candidates for interviews,” said Enrique Arreola, HHSA deputy director, in an e-mail.
Along with the 28 different companies under the tent, the HHSA set up an interview room, where employers could set up times for interviews, and a resume help desk.
People filling out applications kept the desk busy and a helper was there to answer any questions.
“We are there for those that need the help,” Arreola said.
All the companies had to have at least one job opening and it wasn’t hard finding those that wanted to take part in the fair, Montes said.
“The challenge was that there was a lot of business that wanted to be here but they couldn’t because they are very slim on staff,” Montes said. “They don’t have the extra labor to send someone here.”
But next time, he hopes to get at least 35 companies looking for workers, he said.
“We need to invite more employers next time,” Montes said. “Thirty-five would have been better – it would have been a lot better.”
The event was a success because of all the help, Arreola said
“Finding jobs is a need in our community,” he said. “People are without employment and that’s why people are applying for public assistance.”
And the event was used to help push people where to look, he said.
“There isn’t a lot of jobs,” he said. ” But it is a myth that says there are no opportunities.”
As the job fair was going on outside, the Expo celebrated 100 years of business with seven of the county’s organizations such as Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and Tiffany Ford.
“You need those companies because those are the ones you rely on,” Martin said. “You need to know there is a solid base for business.”
