Two upcoming job fairs in Highland County orchestrated by OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) through the Highland County Community Action Organization (HCCAO) will be available to help match local job seekers with employers.
The first will be held Friday, May 13 in Greenfield on the courthouse lawn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second will be held Friday, Aug. 5 in Hillsboro on the lawn of the old high school off West Main Street. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rhonda Fannin, HCCAO director of workforce services, said the current unemployment rate in Highland County is 4.9 percent. She said that translates to 900 people in Highland County who could be working.
Job seekers can find current openings at OhioMeansJobs.com. “Right now, within just a 20-mile radius of the 45133 zip code, we have 45 jobs that are listed online,” said Fannin.
There are two OMJ Centers in Highland County — one in Hillsboro and one in Greenfield — that provide free self- and staff-assisted employment services. The services include assistance with layoffs, plant or company closures, unemployment, and re-employment. The centers provide job listings, information about skills required from area employers to fill job vacancies, and a job bank telephone to call prospective employers.
Job seekers can use the centers to register and maintain unemployment benefits, and computers and Internet access are available for general job searching. OhioMeansJobs.com provides access to career assessments, resume writing, training sites, and other services.
“We actually have a new program that we’re doing for re-employment, and it’s really helpful for individuals that are trying to get back into the workforce,” said Fannin. “We have a lot of seasonal workers in the county so sometimes they return to their regular employer, but sometimes, especially with COVID and with how things have changed over the last couple of years, people are looking for better schedules and higher wages, so sometimes they will look for re-employment in different types of careers.”
OhioMeansJobs partners with Southern State Community College and other education providers to assist in getting workers trained and upskilled by helping them obtain credentials for in-demand jobs in and around Highland County.
“We do a lot of upskilling, and we help with a lot of trainings,” said Fannin. “We have a lot of people in transportation and health care right now that we actually help pay for training if they are enrolled in our program, and they are all in-demand jobs.”
OMJ staff are available to provide career counseling. They offer career and occupational assessments to assist job seekers in determining their skills, interests and abilities.
The OMJ centers in Highland County offer free weekly workshops that are available for in-person attendance or virtually through ZOOM. Workshop topics include job searching, resume writing, work ethic and budgeting.
Employers interested in participating in the career fair in Greenfield can call 937-981-3500 or send an email to [email protected]. Employers interested in participating in the career fair in Hillsboro can call 937-393-1933 or send an email to [email protected].
Jobseekers can find more information about OMJ services online at omjhighlandcounty.com, the Facebook page of Ohio Means Jobs Highland County, or by calling 937-393-1933.
Reach John Hackley at 937-402-2571.
