You do not have to travel far before seeing a help wanted sign these days. They are all over the place – in windows of businesses, stuck in the ground along streets, waving in the wind on banners or flashing from neon signs. Every profession imaginable is in need of workers. Therefore, in the words of many employers, “this is a great time to land a job.”
The City of Salem is sponsoring a job fair this Wednesday, October 24, in the Community Room at the Salem Civic Center with the help of Virginia Career Works. The event opens at noon and will run until 7 p.m. More than 25 employers will be on hand offering jobs that run the gamut. Some employers are poised to make offers on the same day.
“Across the spectrum, everyone is hiring right now,” said City Manager Kevin Boggess. “There are more openings in the region than people looking for them. This job fair is being offered to find employees for our companies and others throughout the region.”
Besides job opportunities, the job fair will offer resume workshops and interview tips. The event is an outgrowth of the City of Salem’s Workforce Development Council, consisting of representatives from Salem City Council, Virginia Western Community College, Salem City Public Schools, Salem City School Board, business owners and leaders, Economic Development Authority members, millennials and high-school students. The council’s focus is to create a workforce to meet the needs.
Boggess said the workforce group is hoping to change the perception that every job needs a college degree.