SPOKANE, Wash – Hundreds of job seekers attended the WorkSource NonStop Local KHQ Spokane County Career Expo on Wednesday.
There were over 150 vendors, seeking employees.
The event featured more than 150 vendors representing a wide range of industries including food services, wholesale trade, hospitality, health care, social services, government, and nonprofits.
The expo comes at a time when employment statistics show challenges in the job market.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, last year 5.3% of families had an unemployed person, up from 4.8% the previous year.
Despite this, 80.1% of families had at least one employed member.
Employers at the expo shared their perspectives on what they are looking for in potential employees.
One employer emphasized the importance of commitment, saying, “I say that just but there are people that we’ve hired and they’ve never shown up, or they come to work for one or two days, and then you never see them again.”
They stressed the need for individuals who “really want a job, and not a job, but a career.”
Another employer highlighted the demand for vocational skills, stating, “We just don’t have enough students to fill the job offers. So there’s plenty of employment in this field, really good wages.”
Northwest Specialty Hospital was among the companies promoting their work culture and opportunities.
A representative shared, “We’re looking for open positions as far as front desk, CMA, CNAs, we have EVs… we’re just kind of promoting our company and our work life and our culture.”
The importance of vocational programs was also discussed.
One attendee noted, “A lot of students just believe you need to move on and do a four-year degree to get a good job. But the jobs that we do require specialized skills.”
Employers also expressed the value of personal qualities in potential hires.
“Just somebody who’s kind. You can teach somebody how to register a patient and how to get people onto the systems, but you can’t teach somebody how to be kind,” said a representative from Northwest Specialty Hospital.
The Career Expo provided an opportunity for meaningful interactions between employers and job seekers.
One participant remarked, “I’m encouraged by seeing the turnout, the amount of people and the good conversations we have.”
