Norton Job Fair Sets Records as House Passes

Unemployment Benefits Bill

June 12, 2008

Washington, D.C.  Topping last year's record, close to 4,000 D.C. residents attended Norton's 11th Annual Job Fair yesterday, an indication that hard times are finding many without jobs and anxiously seeking work. But Congress worked for an unemployment extension bill that passed the House, 274-137, "a further demonstration that more Americans used to working everyday are laid off or unable to find work," Norton said. Initial feedback from residents shows that many were pleased with the opportunity to talk with more than 120 employers, one on one, especially those who did interviews on site at the Washington Convention Center. One employer told staff he wanted to hire several D.C. residents he spoke with, before someone else hired them.

Norton holds the job fair every year only for District residents because most federal and private sector jobs in the city go to the much larger number of regional residents. "Our job fair levels the playing field a bit," she said. "We are grateful that so many employers attended this year because they get to speak directly with a well dressed group of residents, who often find it hard to break through the commonly used on-line application process, where District residents, whatever their qualifications, are hugely outnumbered by the huge pool from the region. Many will need the unemployment benefits we finally got through the House today to have any chance of coping with the double hit of the rising food and gas prices." Although many of the stimulus checks for which Norton fought hard have been received, they have had little effect so far, especially in the District.

Unemployment continues to rise here and the last Labor Department report showed the largest monthly increase nationally in more than 20 years. Norton said that the one hour workshop before the fair will be back by popular demand next year. Featured were a fashion show on attire for the interview for various types of jobs, a simulated interview between an employer and applicant, and a briefing on temporary jobs as an option.