Hiring fair at JCHS tries to link businesses, students

Looking for work and workers

Emily Wilkerson, 18, right, speaks Thursday with Cindy Johnson, a representative of the Missouri Job Center, during Jefferson City High School's job fair in the school's cafeteria. Wilkerson plans on pursuing business administration following graduation.
Emily Wilkerson, 18, right, speaks Thursday with Cindy Johnson, a representative of the Missouri Job Center, during Jefferson City High School's job fair in the school's cafeteria. Wilkerson plans on pursuing business administration following graduation.

Dozens of students attended a hiring fair Thursday evening by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce at Jefferson City High School.

About 50 businesses attended the event, sponsored by the chamber's Workforce Action Team as part of its effort to match high school students with employers looking for workers.

Jason Otke, president of Dick Otke Construction, said his firm is looking for carpenters, steel workers and iron workers, adding the firm has mentorship programs for students not looking to attend college.

"We have a mentorship with some of the more experienced guys and show them a well-rounded path," Otke said.

Jefferson City's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in April, just below the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the local and national economies nearing full employment, chamber officials said it can be tough for firms to find employees.

Otke said this was the first hiring fair his company has attended. Usually the firm recruits by word of mouth through friends and family. Midway through the event, Otke found one great prospect and talked to a few more.

"It makes it a little more challenging, but there's good people with the rural community we have," Otke said.

Stephanie Witthar, a community liaison for Phoenix Home Care, said her firm was looking for caregivers and people who could become certified nurses assistants with training.

"We are looking for caregivers. You don't need a college degree for that, and you can do it during the summer," she said. "We appreciate people coming onto the job for us, so we want to grab them and mold them."

Witthar said by midway through the event that she'd given out a few applications and was hoping more students would come through.

Kassidy Neu, a junior at Jefferson City High School, plans to attend Truman State University after graduating next spring. Neu dressed up for the event, as she was looking for a part-time job to help her enter the workforce.

"I saw a few things," Neu said, "just found out what I could do besides fast food to get my foot in the door."