How times have changed.
Nine years ago, during the depths of the Great Recession, a job fair would means lines of hundreds of people, all fighting over a few dozen jobs.
Nowadays, with unemployment at a 35-year low of 3.7 percent, it's a far different scenario.
Employment events, like the Cincinnati Mega Job Fair Thursday at the Holiday Inn in West Chester, almost have more companies on hand than job seekers.
Job seekers can be choosy
Christina Black was one of those looking for work. But unlike during the dark days of 2009, she could afford to be choosy this time.
"I'm looking for human resources work, training and development," she said. "I've had several offers, I'm just looking for the right fit."
Black, who is currently employed, says she is looking for a job closer to her, with better benefits. She says that's where it can still be tricky, because for higher paying jobs you still need to have the right skills and degrees.
"If you want just any job," she said, "it's easy to get it, but if it's a specific job you're looking for it might take some time."
Thousands of warehouse and delivery jobs
Most openings these days, according to the event organizers at JobNewsUSA.com, are in the warehousing, logistics, and delivery business. Think Amazon and its giant distribution centers.
The good news is that those are no longer minimum wage jobs, as they were 10 years ago.
Amazon has announced it is raising its full-time wage to $18 an hour, which in turn is forcing other companies to offer potential workers $13 or more.
Some companies offer training
Among companies with booths at the fair were Kevin Lamb of Sharonville-based Standard Aero. His company provides technical support for jet engines, like those manufactured nearby by GE
The biggest problem, he says is finding workers with the correct skills. So his company now offers training to qualified applicants.
"We've actually expanded our training, so we are looking at more apprentice programs he said."
Other companies, like Roto Rooter, say there is a big need for skilled trades people, such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians.
Companies on hand for the job fair, who may still be hiring even after the fair is over, include:
- Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
- C&K Industrial
- Devry University
- First Student
- Iner Group
- Interviewing to Win,
- IRS, Internal Revenue Service
- Legion Logistics
- McCluskey Chevrolet
- Medpace,
- Ohio Means Jobs
- PAC Worldwide
- RDI
- Renewal By Andersen
- Rescare
- Roto-Rooter
- Seabird Publications
- Spectrum (Sales)
- Standard Aero
- T-Mobile
- U.S. Census Bureau
- West Chester Chamber Alliance
- CC Kitchens
- River City Correctional Center
- Superior Environmental Solutions
- U Pull & Pay
- World Pay
See the full list,with more details, here.
To apply to some off the firms at the job fair, and other Cincinnati companies hiring, go to JobNewsUSA.com.
As always, don't waste your money.
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