Montpelier, Vt. – 2022 has been the year of the job fair in Vermont. The Department of Labor and its statewide and local partners have amplified efforts to connect jobseekers and employers, holding 14 in-person events between April and August, with two additional events - Fall Job Fest in Bennington (September 20) and Rutland (September 22) - scheduled for next week.
“In a given year we might have previously held four or five job fairs,” said Commissioner Michael Harrington. “This is tremendous work by our staff and speaks to the great need from employers that exists in the state.”
The ‘job fair season’ kicked-off in April with Vermont’s Largest Job Fair and continued throughout the spring and summer. Job fairs were then held in locations across the state – from Bennington to Lyndonville, and Ludlow to Burlington. Innovative strategies were employed in an effort to reach jobseekers, including coordinating with local baseball teams to hold job fairs during games, and blending the success of virtual job fairs with the desire of in-person interaction through hybrid events.
“Reflecting on the past few months, we have listened to employers and learned that the traditional methods of recruiting aren’t enough right now”, said Harrington. “We need to think creatively to attract talent, and also new workers to move to Vermont.”
Department of Labor organized in-person job fairs had an attendance of more than 7600 individuals and 624 employers over the 14 events held between April and August. This was highlighted by Vermont’s Largest Job Fair (1200 attendees and 200 employers) and Triple Play Job Fest events (5500 attendees and 73 employers over four events).
Virtual job fair events have also been a focus of the Department this year. The #Hiring2DayVT Virtual Job Fair series was held weekly from January through April, providing an opportunity for employers to connect with jobseekers when in-person meetings could not as widely held. The series moved to monthly in April in an effort to meet the needs of jobseekers and employers, with both groups expressing a desire for in-person opportunities.
Looking ahead, Fall Job Fest events in Bennington and Rutland are scheduled for next week in coordination with local partners. These locations each saw 200 jobseekers and more than 55 employers when events were held earlier this spring. Jobseekers interested in exploring career opportunities and employers wanting to participate in these and other upcoming events may visit the Department’s website at https://labor.vermont.gov to register and learn more.
Details on Fall Job Fest:
- Bennington
- Tuesday, September 20
- 11:00am – 2:00pm
- Deer Park, 353 North Street, Bennington, VT 05201
- Register: https://labor.vermont.gov/event/fall-job-fest-bennington
- Rutland
- Thursday, September 22
- 11:00am – 2:00pm
- Depot Park, 49 Evelyn Street, Rutland, VT 05701
- Register: https://labor.vermont.gov/event/fall-job-fest-rutland