Bay County job fair returns for 36th year; set to bring over 60 employers

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·3 min read

BAY COUNTY— An event billed as the premier hiring event along the Gulf Coast is returning to Bay County.

CareerSource Gulf Coast will hold its 36th annual Bay County Job Fair Feb. 4, bringing job seekers to local employers in Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Florida State University Panama City in the Holley Center with veterans, military spouses and transitioning service members getting early access at 9 a.m. The event is free for everyone, and walk-ins are welcome.

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Becky Samarripa, communications manager of CareerSource Gulf Coast, said more than 60 employers from a range of different industries will be in attendance at the event.

CareerSource Gulf Coast will host its 36th annual job fair Feb. 4 at Florida State University Panama City.
CareerSource Gulf Coast will host its 36th annual job fair Feb. 4 at Florida State University Panama City.

“Jobs will be available across all industries and skill levels, creating hundreds of job opportunities,” Samarripa said. “There’s such a strong demand for employees right now, and we want to help employers, too. We know this is one of the best ways to connect job seekers with all the opportunities here."

Job opportunities will be available for everyone, not just those who are unemployed, Samarripa said. The event will also cater to employees looking to grow in their careers or seek other career paths. In addition, job seekers should be prepared to network as well as give on-the-spot interviews with employers.

Ahead of the event, Samarripa said she recommends individuals have their resumes ready, wear something professional and sharp and prepare a brief introduction about themselves and their background.

The Bay County job fair will return for its 36th year on Feb. 4.
The Bay County job fair will return for its 36th year on Feb. 4.

“We like to prepare the community for the job fair so we urge them to map out their strategy and research employers because we’ve seen job offers made on the spot,” Samarripa said. “We see people who are already working right now that want something better, so this is a perfect place for people to find better opportunities for their lives.”

Samarripa said that unemployment rates have been historically low in the past year.

According to the latest statistics, the region had a 2.2% unemployment rate in December for Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties. Employment in the region has increased by 4.9% in the past year.

“2022 was the year of the job seekers,” Samarripa said. “There were so many opportunities for them and an abundance of jobs, and this year, we’re seeing a similar trend to where employers are meeting their demands so that they can attract those employees.”

In addition to CareerSource Gulf Coast, the annual job fair involves a partnership between Gulf Coast State College, Haney Technical College, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce, Tyndall Air Force Base, Military and Family Readiness Center, Naval Support Activity and Fleet and Family Service Center.

For more information and a list of all the participating employers, visit CareerSource Gulf Coast’s event page at careersourcegc.com.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County's biggest hiring event returns to the Gulf Coast