More than 200 local jobs will be available in one central location as part of the upcoming Jobs and Skills Market, which will take place on the second day of the Sunshine Coast Business Expo tomorrow Thursday (29th May).
The event will see approximately 40 recruitment agencies, employment services providers and local businesses with vacant positions come together to seek out successful candidates across a wide range of industries.
Local Employment Coordinator Kris McCue said with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicating the Sunshine Coast’s unemployment rate currently sits at 7.7 per cent, the Jobs and Skills Market would come as a welcome relief for those seeking employment in the region.
“At present, the Sunshine Coast is lagging behind much of the rest of the state, with the unemployment rate 1.4 per cent higher than the Queensland average,” Mr McCue said.
“The main purpose of the Jobs and Skills Market is to unlock the hidden jobs market which so often sees jobs being filled through word-of-mouth rather than being advertised more widely. It gives local jobseekers an opportunity to present themselves and their resumes to a number of employers and agencies that have positions vacant.”
“We’re expecting between 500-1,000 job seekers will pass through the doors on the day and hope a good percentage of the positions available will be filled or at least have a shortlist of applicants.”
Mr McCue said employers and recruitment agencies would be conducting job interviews at the event and he encouraged local community members seeking work to start preparing their resumes.
“There are a range of jobs on offer across a broad range of industries so whether you are highly skilled or lack formal qualifications we expect there will be jobs that suit your needs,” Mr McCue said.
Exhibitors participating in the Jobs and Skills Market include Acclaim Apprentices & Trainees, Defence Force Recruiting, Youi as well as The Work Shop (TWS) — the local construction employment and skills hub for the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital.
The Queensland Government is investing $1.8 billion to deliver the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital project, including an estimated 1,800 jobs at the peak of construction. TWS has been created to offer skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled positions whilst the public hospital is under construction to local workers.
TWS Employment Manager, Ed McShea said he was pleased to be promoting and discussing some of the upcoming construction opportunities available for locals at the Jobs and Skills Market.
“Construction is ramping up at the public hospital site and therefore so is recruitment,” Mr McShea said.
“We have worked closely with our on-site contractors over the past few months and currently have vacancies for scaffolders, formworkers, carpenters, plasterers, electricians and hoist operators. A training programme for electricians is also being offered.”
The Jobs and Skills Market will be held at the Mooloolaba Campus of Sunshine Coast TAFE on 29 May between 10am and 2pm. Jobseekers attending the event will have access to a range of free services including a jobs board displaying all available jobs on the day, computer facilities to search and apply for jobs online and photocopying facilities. Free buses will also be available from Noosa, Caloundra and Nambour.
For further information please visit www.scbizexpo.org.au/jobs-skills-market.
Jobseekers checklist:
- Take advantage of the free buses to avoid any parking delays (details below).
- Prepare your resume – bring multiple copies or use the free facilities available for jobseekers at the Jobs and Skills Market.
- Be dressed for success and ready to impress.
- Get ready – you may just come home with a job!