Chamber Job Fair: Employers need workers
For anyone needing a job, there are plenty of businesses and companies hiring in and around Richland County.
A collaborative effort spearheaded by the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development and Ohio Means Jobs (OMJ) Richland County welcomed job seekers at a Job Fair on Thursday.
Open to the public at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, the event hosted over 70 employers engaging in recruitment and hiring.
Liquibox, with operations in Ashland and Upper Sandusky, was looking to hire a number of people.
Michelle Korda of liquibox said the company manufacturers food grade plastic bags for wine, McDonald's ice cream and more.
The companies, located at 1817 Masters Ave., Ashland, and 519 Raybestos Drive, Upper Sandusky, needs workers, and has plenty of entry level manufacturing jobs, with pay ranging from $15-$17 per hour, plus benefits. Jobs involve packaging plastic bags, and the work does not involve heavy lifting.
"We have climate control and it's very clean. It's a food-grade facility," she said.
Korda Goon, Mary Goon and Kendra Osborne said the environment is family friendly.
Educational opportunities part of the show
Elsewhere in the large conference room, the Mansfield City Schools Aspire Program was looking for adults who might want help to get a GED or to prepare themselves to become college students.
"All services are free," said Andrea Karpiak-Feasel, program coordinator.
The program operates from the city schools' West Fifth Street building and serves people in Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties.
Like so many employers in the room, everyone is looking to hire people, including Der Dutchman at Ohio 97 and Interstate 71.
Curt Kauffman, general manager of Dutchman Hospitality, and Ryan Mowry, events coordinator, were looking to fill a variety of positions at the restaurant, both full and part-time.
Success at finding workers 'comes in waves'
Finding employees has been difficult for restaurants everywhere ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, employers said.
"It comes in waves," Kauffman said.
Jobs are available at the restaurant for the front of the house and the heart of the house, or kitchen, he said.
Starting wages, depending on the job, range $11-$15 per hour, Kauffman said.
Also wanting employees was Jean Taddie, transit development manager at Richland County Regional Planning. She said the office is looking for candidates, with or without college degrees.
She was looking for employees for Richland County Transit, too, noting the agency needs bus drivers and office cleaners.
Taddie said bus drivers are needed at RCT, and on the regional planning side, there is a job opening for a transportation planner. The planner position pays $36,000-$72,000 a year.
"We're also looking for an intern who must be currently enrolled college student," she said, noting the intern job pays $13-$15 an hour.
"There's really something for everyone," she said. "Especially with regional planning we're very flexible with hours," Taddie said.
Staffing agency opening for big, small business, skilled and entry level
Heidi Cole, a staffing consultant, was manning the Staffing Partners table. The office is located at 355 Park Avenue West, Mansfield.
Cole said the agency is hiring for employers big and small, entry level and for skilled positions.
A handout she provided listed more than 20 job openings including a shipper in Shelby ($11.50 per hour), etchers in Mansfield ($15 per hour) and an industrial equipment painter in Mansfield ($17-$22 per hour).
Nearby, at StarTek, recruiter Jennifer Post said she has jobs for people who want to work from home and onsite technical support jobs for cell phone/mobile carriers. Onsite jobs start at $16.50 per hour.
"We give a lot of training so even if you're new from the street and you're not sure if you can do technical support, we're going to train you," she said. "We have coaching sessions."
The company, located at 850 W. Fourth St., has computers for people who may want to come in and fill out an application online.
Jobs for all positions at Love's Truck Stop
Flo Stewart, general manager of Love's Truck stop on Ohio 97 at I-71, said there are jobs for all positions from cashiers, to restaurant technicians, tire technicians, maintenance and diesel technicians.
Employees can be under age 18 and work in the restaurant and deli. Employees in the store and tire shop must be age 18 and older. Employees are paid shift differentials. Cashiers start at between $12 and $13 per hour.
"It's a good family environment and we all try to treat each other like family and come to work and have fun," Stewart said. "They (employees) get four raises in the first 15 months."
Stewart, who hails from West Virginia, said the sports complex proposed for the Ohio 97 area in the near future will bring more customers to their business and they are looking forward to it opening across Ohio 97 from Love's.
Taco John's restaurant operates at the site.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Der Dutchman needs front of the house and heart of the house workers
