Windi Kapraun of Vienna speaks to representatives of MOVE Staffing during a job fair held at the Wood County Resiliency Center Thursday. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — People looking for work or to possibly change careers attended a job fair Thursday at the Wood County Resiliency Center in Parkersburg.

There were around 40 employers and 35 resource organizations at the job fair who were talking to people, taking resumes, handing out information and more, organizers said.

There were also rooms for resume building, interviewing skills and for companies to conduct interviews, along with a seminar for workers who were recently let go from the Federal Bureau of the Fiscal Service, they added.

There were over 125 job seekers who attended the job fair, said Cyndi Auth, interim executive director of Workforce Development of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“West Virginia has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the country,” she said. “Many of our local employers struggle to find skilled workers.”

A job fair was held at the Wood County Resiliency Center Thursday to help connect job seekers with available jobs in the area. There were around 40 employers and 35 resource organizations at the job fair who were talking to people, taking resumes, handing out information and more. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

They are working to connect potential employees with companies looking to hire, Auth said. They also wanted to work with a number of federal employees who might be re-entering the job market, she added

The job fair was put on by American Job Center Partners which includes Workforce Development of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Workforce West Virginia, Ross Innovative Employment Solutions, Career Connections, National Council on Aging, the Circles Campaign of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Jobs and Hope West Virginia, WV Adult Ed and West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services.

The Resiliency Center was offered as a venue for the event by the Wood County Commission.

“When Cyndi came to the Resiliency Center and asked if we would be interested in being the venue sponsor for the federal hiring event there was no question,” said Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber. “The commissioners and myself were glad that our facility was able to assist these organizations to put on such a valuable event for our community.”

The organizers put the job fair together in just two to three weeks.

“We thought this would be a good opportunity to be able to connect employers to skilled workers,” Auth said.

Windi Kapraun of Vienna was at the job fair seeing what was available.

“I am currently unemployed,” she said. “I have been unemployed since the end of July.

“I have been looking and have had a few interviews, but I haven’t gotten a job yet.”

Kapraun is looking to stay in the Parkersburg area as her family is here. She has been able to make contacts and handed her resume out.

“I have gotten a couple of promising leads so we will see,” she said. “Hopefully, things are changing.”

Some of the employers at the event included Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, Eagle Pointe, West Virginia Department of Transportation, Westbrook Health Services, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, the West Virginia Division of Personnel, the West Virginia State Police, St. Joseph’s Landing, Generation WV, a number of trade unions and more.

Seven Mountains Media was one of the employers at the job fair. The company operates radio stations, does digital marketing, website design, graphic design, video/photography, content creation and more.

Promotions Director Lori Roberts said there had been quite a few people through on Thursday.

“We have made a lot of wonderful connections and had some great conversations with people who are out looking for a job or looking to start a new career,” she said. “People are asking us if we are hiring and we are.”

Ricci Bailey, assistant director for the Center of Entrepreneurship at Marietta College, said people were looking at what was available and what they could do.

“People are looking for diverse jobs,” she said. “Everyone has a different background and everyone has something different they are looking for in life.

“I have talked to people who are older and younger. Many are looking for something they can fit into.”

In addition to jobs, people were looking at benefits and other things working for the college might bring them, including being able to take classes, having dependents be able to attend college and more, Bailey said.

Auth wanted job seekers to see that there are a lot of job opportunities in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“The employers do care and are seeking skilled workers,” she said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com