April 15, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Doug Peters
President & CEO
325-280-8856
doug@abilenechamber.com
Laurin Kocurek, Vice President
Operations & Communications
325-677-7241
laurin@abilenechamber.com
Abilene Chamber Helps Business Combat Workforce Challenges with In-Person Job Fair
A partnership with the Abilene Industrial Foundation
Economic Recovery from COVID-19 continues, and job openings are rising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released for February, job openings are at 7.4 million – 268,000 more than in January. However, a recent survey conducted by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Abilene Industrial Foundation (AIF), employers are facing challenges finding employees.
Out of the 101 responses of the survey conducted, 70 percent of businesses are in need of applicants.
“This challenge isn’t unique to our community,” said Doug Peters, President & CEO of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. Peters also serves as president of the AIF. “However, as the primary voice of business in the Big Country, we’re here to serve and assist members of the business community in any way possible.”
In order to assist employers with finding employees, the Chamber and AIF are hosting an in-person job fair to take place on April 28th from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm at Rose Park Recreation Center.
The event is free to both businesses and members of the community to participate. Registration for businesses is broken into two-hour time slots allowing participants to choose the timeframe that best suits their schedule by setting up for two-hours or for all seven hours of the event.
“We hope this event will benefit businesses, and the community will take advantage of the opportunity to learn about local career opportunities,” said Peters.
For more information on the job fair or how to participate, please contact Director of Talent & Development, Marissa Ransted.
ABOUT THE CHAMBER: Since 1908, the Abilene Chamber has served as a catalyst for business growth, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for developing and promoting the economy and quality of life. For more information on the Chamber and the 1,200 businesses it represents, visit www.abilenechamber.com.
ABOUT THE AIF: The Abilene Industrial Foundation is the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s private sector representative in the community’s economic development partnership. Along with the City of Abilene and the Development Corporation of Abilene, the AIF works to cultivate the region’s economy through entrepreneurial support, business retention and expansion, downtown redevelopment and workforce development and retention.
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