Major firms set to hire at job fair

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A number of major Toledo-area employers -- including First Solar Inc., Hollywood Casino Toledo, Pilkington North America Inc., and Libbey Inc. -- and several temporary staffing agencies representing other businesses will be looking to find new employees at a job fair Monday in the SeaGate Convention Centre.

Among those scheduled to attend are representatives from Chrysler Group LLC who, while they won't be hiring workers for an expected 1,105 new jobs at its Toledo Assembly complex, will be on hand to talk to potential job candidates about how to apply through the company's online process if those jobs become available.

The job fair, jointly sponsored by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and The Source, will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the downtown convention center, at Summit Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Mike Veh, work-force development manager at The Source, Lucas County's one-stop shop for unemployment services, said many of the expected businesses haven't participated in a local job and career fair in several years. And, he said, they have indicated they have multiple positions to fill.

"We targeted businesses for this event that are in the process of actually hiring people," Mr. Veh said.

Lucas County's official jobless rate was 10 percent in August, with more than 22,000 unemployed, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said. The September figures are due out in about two weeks.

"In talking to employment officials in our area, I learned that many companies are actually having trouble finding qualified workers. The job fair is our attempt to match employers with employees," Miss Kaptur said yesterday.

Job seekers are encouraged to dress to impress, be prepared to interview, and have plenty of resumes to share with potential employers, county officials said. The event is free and open to the public.

Contact Larry P. Vellequette at: lvellequette@theblade.com or 419-724-6091.