Tuesday’s first-ever Trigg County Chamber of Commerce Job Fair at The Way Christian Youth Center was a success in its own right.
More than 200 Trigg County High School juniors and seniors, under the guidance of the district’s College & Career Coordinator Cammie Evans and Principal Tim Bush, enjoyed a soft opening — spending time having resumes reviewed and questions answered about part-time and full-time work.
Then, at 11 AM, a long line formed at the door, prospective employees waiting to get in the building.
More than 300 total people had perused the 300-plus jobs from 31 different regional organizations by the 2 PM finish. And in those final moments, someone was hired by Senior Helpers of West Kentucky.
Owned and operated by Trigg County Class of 1999 graduate Kyle Rhone and his wife, Leslie, Rhone said his company is always on the lookout for talented individuals capable of caring for senior adults looking to “age in place” without entering special care centers. Their business receives daily calls for new service, and as the market grows, so does the need for employees.
Rhone said a job fair in Trigg County was an easy fit.
And a job fair put two interested parties together in one place, by happenstance.
Beth Sumner, chamber membership director for Trigg County, said the number of businesses and wide variety of opportunities played a large part in this feeling of success.
But that feeling started with wide-eyed youths, who not only need jobs to help pay for first cars, insurance, gas money or dating dollars — but also could be prepping for a career just after graduation.
And a test-run through Tuesday’s atmosphere could, perhaps, even better prepare a high school student for Thursday’s “Jobs Fest 2022” — a job fair sponsored by South Western Kentucky EDC and the West Kentucky Workforce Board at Hopkinsville’s Sportsplex, that’s specifically tailored for those not seeking college or the military after graduation.
And like many of the job fairs west Kentucky has held in the last year, Sumner added that there were jobs for all different types of education levels, skills needed or to be acquired, hours of operation, pay and work sector — in what were open chances for local and regional workers.
While unemployment continues to be at a record low in Kentucky, workforce participation rate in Trigg, Christian and Todd counties is a combined 44% — meaning more than four out of every 10 able bodies is without an employer.
Job fairs in general, Sumner added, could be the key to changing that, because the education of job openings can help open up ideas to other career paths.
Sumner said that a handful of businesses used Tuesday afternoon to join the Trigg County Chamber of Commerce membership list, while one unnamed employer actually picked up a part-time job with another employer.
Business seeking employees, as of Tuesday:
Ace Drywall & Acoustical
Hopkinsville Family Young Men’s Christian Association INC
Barkley Plantation
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Black Pearl Home Care
Commonwealth Agri Energy
Senior Helpers
Crown Staffing/Crown Health
Shady Lawn Nursing and Rehab
Fish Island Resort
SMX Staff Management
FNB Bank, Inc.
Stuff In Balloons
Hancock’s Neighborhood Market
Trigg County Hospital
HOLIDAY BURGERS On The Lake
Purity Zinc Metals
US Army
Wabash
Trigg County Schools
PRIDE Industries
Wise Staffing
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
PACS/Kynect
Prizer Point Resort Marina and KOA
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville Community College – Nursing & Allied
Hopkinsville Community College, Workforce Solutions
The Fishing Hole
Riken Elastomers
