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"We've had a lot of people come through today looking for jobs," said Stacy Mauer, president of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce, host of the event. "We expected that."
Exhibitors said jobs are available, but recent layoffs, cutbacks or shutdowns by some area companies mean healthy businesses can be more selective in hiring.
"There are a lot of people out looking for jobs this year," said Penny Broadrick, a human resources assistant at Blue Bird North Georgia. "Our phones and our staffing agency have calls constantly -- this past year I've seen at least twice the number of calls from people looking for jobs."
Demand for Blue Bird's yellow school buses has remained constant -- "We're still doing 25 buses a day," Ms. Broadrick said -- and the company continues to recruit workers.
But rising fuel prices make commuting more costly and people are looking for jobs closer to home, Ms. Broadrick said.
Data show that 24 percent of residents in Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties work in Chattanooga or Hamilton County, Ms. Mauer said.
She said helping people find jobs closer to home is one reason the Chamber staged this year's event at the Walker County Civic Center. Letting people know local businesses can meet most of their shopping and service needs is equally significant, she said.
"It is just as important to remind people these businesses are here and that they are our neighbors," she said.
She said 95 percent of the local Chamber's member businesses have 25 or fewer employees. Small businesses fuel the local economy and provide personal service, she said.
"Many people who are out of work or worry about their jobs are looking toward opening a new business or a franchise," Ms. Mauer said.
The jobs fair attracted 37 vendors and allowed businesses to make themselves known in a market where until recently people held jobs in factories, mills and retail chain stores.
Kim Ray and Dayle Damron, employees with the Walker County office of the state Division of Family and Children Services, visited the job fair.
"I'm here for my husband," Mrs. Ray said. "He's been out of work and hasn't been able to find a job for about a year."
"I'm seeing what's available," Mrs. Damron said. "It's been a long time since I've looked for a job. Today, if you have a job you keep it."
Connie Harrison, a recruiter from the Convergys center in Chattanooga that already employs 1,500, said she was planning ahead.
"We are looking to fill about 200 positions by year's end," she said.
Another vendor was Food Lion, which is expanding throughout North Georgia.
"People are looking for something to get a career started -- something that won't ebb and flow with the economy -- or are looking for a second job," said Shelby Potter, manager of the Food Lion in Chickamauga, Ga. "A lot of people are tired of fighting for jobs in industries that are closing."
To see more of the Chattanooga Times/Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesfreepress.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Chattanooga Times/Free Press, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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