Jobs may be scarce throughout the country,...
Jobs may be scarce throughout the country, but Monday in Long Beach, scores of employers will gather to woo workers for hundreds of positions at firms throughout the West.
Representatives from more than 50 companies will attend the NAACP Western Region Job Fair at the Long Beach Convention Center, offering mostly sales, retail, accounting and clerk jobs.
“There are definitely more people seeking jobs than there are jobs available,” said Lew Shomer, president of Shomex Productions, the fair’s promoter. With the recession in full swing, aerospace jobs have dwindled and “what we’re seeing now is a lot more service industry jobs,” Shomex sales representative Rick Holguin said.
Although the majority of those who attend the NAACP’s twice-yearly fairs are minorities and women, organizers keep the doors open to everyone, said Ernestine Peters of the NAACP.
“With the state of the economy the way it is, anyone is welcome to take advantage of the opportunities offered,” Peters said. “No one is turned away.”
In the past, the job fair has attracted more than 6,000 job seekers, about 80% of whom are out of work, Shomer said. Roughly 80% of those attending are African-Americans and about 38% are women, Peters said. Of all job seekers, 81% have college degrees and 16% have advanced degrees, according to Shomex statistics.
The NAACP sponsors job fairs, Peters said, “because we want to bring forth the opportunity to employers to find qualified employees among African-Americans. One of the things heard most often among employers who discriminate is that they can’t find qualified minority applicants. Employers can come here, interview and hire on the spot.”
Employers such as Household Bank in Newport Beach have about 30 openings throughout Southern California as a result of their recent acquisition of Imperial Savings and expanded hours, said Cheryl Warnagieris, regional marketing director.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to reach qualified, motivated candidates,” Warnagieris said. “Our participation in the job fair is part of our ongoing commitment to affirmative action.”
Employers who have attended the job fair in past years include major aerospace companies, Honda, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Southern California Gas Co., MCA/Universal Studios and the Walt Disney Co., Peters said. Minority job fairs have helped raise the level of consciousness among employers, she added.
The job fair is free and will fill the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Avenue, Long Beach, from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Monday. Some of the career seminars offered include: “Corporate Opportunities for Minorities,” “Understanding the Hiring Process” and “Interviewing Techniques.” Information: (310) 450-8831.
