Hiring fair to court job seekers

The Mexia and Groesbeck Chambers of Commerce are joining with Heart of Texas Workforce Solutions to put on a hiring fair on Thursday, Nov. 16, and another one is planned for the spring.

The Limestone County Hiring Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Groesbeck Convention Center, 106 E. Navasota St., and at least 20 employers are expected to be on hand to interview prospective employees, according to Mexia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Traci Lafoy.

“It’s a great opportunity for the county,” Lafoy said. “I hope chamber members and all other businesses will take advantage of it. We haven’t had a hiring fair in the county in a long time.”

Lafoy noted that many employers in the area report being understaffed, and that there are many people who need jobs. The hiring fair will give both employers and job seekers an opportunity to connect on a large-scale basis, she added.

The plan is to host another hiring fair in the spring, regardless of the outcome of the fall event, Lafoy said. If the events are a success, hiring fairs could become a regular occurrence of twice per year, she said.

“It’s hard to evaluate right now,” she said. “We don’t know how many job seekers will show up.”

Lafoy said reaction to the announcement of the hiring fair had been favorable.

Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas is one of 28 local workforce development boards in Texas that partners with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide solutions to employers and job seekers. The Heart of Texas region represents Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties.

The organization reports that in 2022 it hosted 150 hiring events, assisted 31 new businesses in staffing, hosted 488 employers at events and greeted 3,137 job seekers at events.

Limestone County had an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in September, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Texas statewide rate was 4.1 percent.

Businesses can register for the job fair at https://www.jotform. com/232855868744170 . Job seekers can learn more at www.bit.ly/limestone-hf .