Job fair in Greece (NY) attracts about 200 seekers
July 20, 2006
Manufacturing job losses continue to hurt the local economy, but a career fair on Wednesday showed that there are still jobs out there.
Representatives from about 40 local companies lined a room at Bryant & Stratton College in Greece, with many saying they were actively recruiting for jobs that ranged from entry-level to higher-skilled positions.
Mary Lou Green of Greece was one of about 200 job hunters who went to the fair, Bryant & Stratton's first, hoping their luck was about to change.
Green especially hoped her range of skills would attract the interest of two companies at the fair: Paychex Inc. and M&T Bank. She was laid off from a part-time job at Monroe Community College seven months ago; four years ago she ended her hairdressing business for medical reasons. She's also a substitute teacher.
"I know payroll, taxes, finances, that kind of thing," she said. "So let's see if they think so!"
The career fair kicked off with a talk by Sandy Parker, chief executive of the Rochester Business Alliance, who detailed local hiring trends.
The five-county area — Monroe, Orleans, Livingston, Ontario and Wayne counties — continues to lose jobs at the highest rate in the state. From May 2005 to May 2006, for example, Rochester lost 1.4 percent of its jobs, or 7,400 positions.
It was one of two metropolitan areas in the state in which the number of people with jobs didn't grow or hold steady. The biggest weakness was in the manufacturing sector, which accounted for most of the job losses.
"While job creation is essential, we can't overlook the opportunities that are already here," Parker said.
"Corporate layoffs have snagged headlines. But many area companies have also announced expansions, including Century Mold, Microwave Data Systems, Sutherland Global Services, Verizon Wireless and Ultralife Batteries," she said.
And certain jobs are going unfulfilled, from engineering and precision manufacturing positions to health care jobs such as nurses, technicians and pharmacists.
Miguel James, 33, of Spencerport is especially concerned about jobs that are available now in information technology. James' 18-month contract position with Eastman Kodak Co. will end in September. So a new job is a must.
"Jobs are scarce, depending on what you're looking for," James said at the career fair. "When it comes to IT, the market is definitely saturated.
"But there are definitely openings out there," he added. "It's just about finding them."
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