Job Fair Success

The 2006 Wytheville Job Fair demonstrates the ample availability of a skilled workforce. Originally scheduled as a two-day event to be held on January 20 and 21, the strong turnout of almost 1,000 people on the first day necessitated extending the job fair to a third day. The job fair drew a crowd of 2,100 job seekers over three days, and almost forty exhibitors showcased, many in the manufacturing sector. Participant surveys revealed approximately 1/3 of the job seekers were unemployed and 2/3 were employed but seeking better opportunities. Most job seekers were from Wythe County or adjacent localities, but the fair also drew attendees from out of state looking to relocate to Southwest Virginia.

Participants in the job fair had the opportunity to take the Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) exam for free thanks to outside sponsorship. The CRC exam is a workforce readiness assessment tool developed by ACT, which assesses workers on reading, mathematics, and locating information. Depending on test scores, exam takers can earn a bronze, silver, or gold certificate. After signing up at the job fair, 250 job seekers took the exam, and 85% received at least a silver certificate (compared to a state-wide average of 68.5%). Click here to learn more about the success of the CRC.

Some job seekers waited in line for over three hours to access employers.