'Something for everybody:' The WorkPlace hosts spring job fair
Apr. 8—WATERTOWN — With 60 employers and 700 jobs available, prospective workers filled the event space at Hilton Garden Inn for The WorkPlace's annual spring job fair.
Described as an event for everyone, employers such as the city of Watertown, Samaritan Medical Center, Jefferson County, area school districts, and more were there meeting candidates.
Cheryl Mayforth, director of The WorkPlace in Watertown, said the biggest problem facing the north country's workforce is a shrinking population as the baby boomer generation continues to retire and employers look to the next generation.
"When a baby boomer retires, there may be a quarter of a person to come behind them," she said. "So employers are finding it a little difficult to find workers at this time."
To start the year, Jefferson County's unemployment numbers have started around 6%. Mayforth said those numbers typically start to decrease as the winter goes on and seasonal employees begin work in the spring.
"You can't predict the future and who knows what's going to happen," she said.
The stock market also plays a role and can affect people looking for jobs if companies lay people off.
She said that the north country didn't fully recover from the 2008-2009 recession until 2016 or 2017.
"It took us a long time," she said.
She also said a lot of baby boomers decided to retire during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why there were labor shortages after the pandemic.
Mayforth said that those who came to the job fair have "opportunities from A-Z." Everything from entry-level positions to positions that require experience was available.
"That's the beauty — there's a wide spanse of jobs," she said. "Something for everybody."
Mayforth said she was hoping to get at least 500 people to come to the event.
The WorkPlace will host another job fair in the fall.
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