A job fair at the Signature Grand in Davie on Wednesday drew more than 7,500 people, a stark reminder that even with a declining unemployment rate many in South Florida are still searching for work.
The line of those hoping to land a job – or at least an interview with one of the 60 featured employers – went out the door while others sat in their cars, waiting for an available parking spot.
It’s the largest crowd the job fair has ever had, said Tiffany Price, manager of the Job News USA hiring event. Similar events are held several times a year.
Florida’s unemployment rate has declined to 8.8 percent, unchanged in August, from 10.5 percent a year ago. September’s rate is released on Friday.
They ranged from some who couldn’t find jobs in other states to those who were back in the job market for the second time.
For Sandy Dudley, 54, of Sunrise, who used to do title work, this was deja vu: “I was with the same company for 20 years and was laid off in December. I found a job in April and got laid off in August.”
The first employer sold the division she worked for; the second outsourced the jobs to India.
Maritza Knox, 46, moved to Fort Lauderdale from California after job hunting there without success for more than a year. She received on-the-spot guidance Wednesday from Ken Fitzpatrick, a branch manager for Select Staffing in West Palm Beach.
Fitzpatrick, who was once reviewing job seekers’ resumes on the adventure, told her to concentrate on her historical past in banking and as a loss investigator. “there were extra opportunities and higher pay,” Knox was advised.
Employers on the process honest have been from quite a lot of industries that included healthcare, retail, cruise line, restaurant and pharmaceutical sales.
Delaware North Cos., which staffs the castle Lauderdale-Hollywood global Airport, was in search of about 20 workers to fill tasks at new airport right here together with meals community Kitchen, a brand new idea through the television net paintings and Delaware, in keeping with Bonnie Hughes, director of human instruments.
Interstate Batteries franchise proprietor Richard Sullivan said he has tasks in gross sales, as a warehouse manager and an administrative assistant. to search out the best employee, “you undergo a large number of other folks,” he stated.
hours into the activity fair, former nyer Kathleen Kiefer was still looking to paintings her method inside.
“this is humbling,” stated Kiefer, 50, residing together with her sister in Pompano seashore while she task hunts. “I came right here from new york wright here i was laid off from a place at a clinic. This turns out worse.”
becoming a member of the end of the line at midday used to be Karen Mendola, forty eight, of sunrise.
“i think like I’m at Disney international. this is loopy,” said Mendola, who has been looking for an administrative assistant job for a year. She mentioned employers have got choosier about who they rent.
“You actually have to give your best possible impression. you have to promote your self. Tright here’s a large number of pageant,” she mentioned.