Local businesses look for workers at job fair
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As a growing local business, Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. is looking to hire more people for its local facility in Muncy.
That's one reason plant manager Garry Hollis was eager to meet with job seekers at the recent Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce Job Fair.
"We are filling all positions," he said. "We are hoping to get leads from this (event)."
Hollis said he was happy that a decent number of people stopped by his table set up inside the Liberty Arena in downtown Williamsport to talk about job openings.
Advanced Drainage Systems is a manufacturer of corrugated pipe with a global network of manufacturing plants and 29 distribution centers.
Hollis referred to the Muncy facility as "the beast of the East."
Darren Welshans, service delivery director for Manpower, said he would have liked to have seen more people attend the job fair.
"I think there are more jobs than people participating in the job market," he said.
The employment agency helps people find work for various businesses throughout the region.
Welshans said of the people stopping by his table, many seemed to be looking for professional and higher skilled positions.
He said he felt the federal stimulus package, which is putting money into the pockets of many unemployed people, could explain why the there don't seem to be more job seekers.
The better a company pays employees, he reasoned, the better chance it has of hiring people.
"I think it will pass," he said.
Of the people he talked to, some were looking to change jobs, while others were looking to simply become employed.
The job fair itself can't hurt in helping some people find jobs.
"It's a good first step," he said.
Sam Shea, human resource manager, PMF Industries, Inc., said many people talked to him about working for the Wililamsport-based company.
"The morning was pretty busy," he said.
Among those stopping by his table were former employees of J&W Aluminum, which recently closed its doors.
"We are looking for people with a background in manufacturing," he said. "I just talked to a few young people, and they are interested in manufacturing."
Stephanie Davies, a human resource specialist with Interim HealthCare, said those turning out for the job fair seemed most interested in manufacturing jobs.
She said Interim, a private duty home health agency in Muncy, is always hiring, even if many people at the event weren't looking to work there as nurses, care aides, or in other jobs.
"We are not getting a lot of people," she said.
Paula Miller, manager of Emergency Medical Transport Solutions, Selinsgrove, said people simply didn't seem to be looking for the kinds of work her business offers.
"Some people took applications with them," she said.
Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce Project Coordinator Sharon Jones said the job fair didn't draw crowds, but "a good number of people" showed up for the event.
"I've talked to a lot of businesses. They've had good contacts and conversations," she said. "There are a lot of jobs out there."
She said she felt Liberty Arena was a good venue for the event.
"We are happy to hold it here," she said.