'It really is a job seeker's market right now'

Jobs were literally and figuratively ‘on the table’ at a multi-sector job fair at The Aud in Simcoe on Wednesday afternoon.

About 34 employers set up tables highlighting job and career opportunities on offer in manufacturing, retail, hospitality, construction, health care, food services, skilled trades and more.

Fanshawe College and Norfolk County partnered for Norfolk County’s first in-person job fair since 2019.

“I think the response from employers is better at an in-person job fair,” said Lisa Savoy, Fanshawe Community Career and Employment Services, Simcoe/Norfolk Regional Campus.

Savoy had hoped to see more job seekers, recalling pre-pandemic job fairs when they had about 60 employers and nearly 500 job seekers.

“When we did job fairs before COVID, the economy was different then. They were also at a different time in February/March — very well received and we always had employers wanting to be on the list. ‘Keep us on the list, this is one of the best job fairs that we’ve been to,’ they said.”

Organizers had about three weeks to plan Wednesday’s job fair, less than normal, she said.

“Norfolk County has been hearing from employers that are desperate for employees. As job developers, we (Fanshawe Career and Employment Services) hear it all the time. Unfortunately we’re not seeing the job seekers wanting to apply to those positions. It’s not that there aren’t people looking for work, it just seems like they are not looking for the type of work that is available.

“It really is a job seeker’s market right now, there’s so much opportunity for people to move around and employers are really struggling to maintain that workforce.”

One of those job seekers praised the job fair.

“I thought it was great; it’s a great opportunity for those in Norfolk and surrounding areas who are looking for work because it’s all in one building,” said Brooke Crossett, who gathered information Wednesday for a job in the health care industry.

Ken Handsaeme, president of On Time Precision Components, a CNC (computer numerical component) machine shop from Delhi, said he is looking for three CNC machine operators.

“We do medical, military, aerospace parts,” said Handsaeme. “We do automotive race components, some aftermarket automotive parts, a little bit of agriculture stuff. It’s all automated now.”

OTPC is operating with a staff of five in the shop now, he said, half of their normal number.

“We’re down to one shift – and we also ran two. Yes, we’ve managed to make our day shift very efficient, but there’s no substitute for the 140-160 hours a week that we’re missing. You just can’t catch up.

“I was kind of hoping more people would show up today but I think it’s that time of the day right now, the people who are working are working. So I think after 3 p.m. we’ll get some more in.”

The jobs are out there, he said, ready to be snapped up.

“I’m trying to hire three, and I’m small. Titan (Trailers) probably wants to hire 23.”

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