Thousands attend Del. job fair as jobless numbers come out [video]

More than 2,000 job seekers looking for full or part-time work exchanged resumes with more than 90 potential employers at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

Companies like Amazon and Mountaire Farms were among the employers at Friday’s job fair hosted by Delaware’s Congressional Delegation, in partnership with Brandywine Counseling and Career Services.

“I’m optimistic that our job fair today helped some of our unemployed or under-employed get on a path to gainful employment,” said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. “I will keep working with Sen. [Chris] Coons and Congressman [John] Carney to create a nourishing environment for job growth until we’ve got everyone back to work.”

In addition to mingling with potential employers, job fair attendees also had the opportunity to hear from a motivational speaker about how to grow their careers as well as learn about application strategies to land a federal job.

Since 2011, the Congressional delegation has hosted 19 job fairs in Delaware, including five specifically for veterans.

Delaware unemployment

January jobless numbers were released today and Delaware’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the first month of 2014 stands at 6.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent in December. January’s numbers mark the fifth consecutive drop in unemployment since September. 

Delaware Dept. of Labor says there were 27,100 unemployed Delawareans in January 2014, compared to 31,100 in January 2013, when unemployment was at 7 percent.

“Even with unemployment in Delaware at a five-year low, many of our neighbors are still looking for work,” said Sen. Coons, D-Del. “We have a strong, dedicated workforce, ready and willing, as evidenced by today’s turnout, to fill open positions at our local businesses.”

“We have a lot more to do so that every Delawarean has the chance to work and support their family. I look forward to our next job fair later this year in Sussex County,” said U.S. Rep. Carney, D-Del. 

Nationally, unemployment numbers for February were released. There were 175,000 jobs added, but the rate still went up. Last month it was at 6.6 percent, the February number is 6.7 percent. Economists say that’s because more people were looking for work.