BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Thousands of people in Kern County are without work according, to the state’s latest unemployment numbers. AGM community partners held a job fair Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm at the Four Points Sheraton to help with that issue.
Jen Bowden, event and marketing coordinator, cannot stress enough what this event means for the community.
“I feel that there’s a lot of businesses suffering. Especially local businesses suffering that they don't have enough employees to keep things moving the way they’d like,” said Bowden.
Many companies attended including, Dryers, The Bakersfield Police Department, and even State Farm. Companies are encouraged people to come out and show up with their resumes.
Unemployment numbers from June show 41,200 people without jobs in Kern County from June, up from the 37,700 from May. June this year was much different from the same time last year where 60 thousand people were unemployed.
Isaias Ruiz owns a local State Farm agency and is looking for entry-level marketing assistants but not all jobs are in insurance.
“Sometimes people don’t know about the opportunities out there, so getting us together in one location where everyone can just attend and look to see what industries or learn about new industries that maybe you had no idea about," said Ruiz.
Chuck Huston is the vice president of operations at Ten West Towing and, he is looking for dispatchers, tow truck drivers, accounts receivable and so many more, and not all require job experience.
“We’re in a large period of growth and, we’re hiring for all positions,” said Huston. “The hazmat position is one that we have trained from the ground up.”
The Bakersfield rehabilitation hospital although, not yet open, is also hiring for all positions.
“We will be looking for everything from receptionists to housekeepers everything in between. By the time we’re opening we’re hoping to have over 100 positions filled," said Nikki Sherrell, L.V.N and Director of Business Development.
