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Range of opportunities can be explored at career fair today in Nanaimo

Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair to be held Sept. 12 in Nanaimo
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Organizers are putting the finishing touches on set-up for today’s Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair at the Nanaimo Curling Centre. (BLACK PRESS photo)

Vancouver Island has the lowest unemployment rate in the province, so there are plenty of career opportunities out there.

Job seekers on Vancouver Island wishing to explore their prospects will be able to do so this week at the Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair on Thursday, Sept. 12, in Nanaimo.

According to Statistics Canada information released last week, Vancouver Island’s unemployment rate has fallen to 4.2 per cent, down from 4.9 per cent a year ago. That figure leads the province, though the Island’s employment rate, 58.3 per cent, is also down, from 60.4 per cent a year ago, due to lower labour force participation rate in the region.

Overall, B.C. lost 8,300 jobs in August in fields including health care, construction and business, building and support services.

The B.C. Liberals pointed out that the province can no longer claim Canada’s lowest unemployment rate after the job losses, and the NDP’s Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, said in a government press release that B.C.’s labour market “is showing its resilience” with its five per cent unemployment rate, second lowest in Canada.

“Some sectors in B.C. are not feeling the benefits of the strong labour market and growing economy. We remain dedicated to assisting workers in these industries and supporting these communities. We are committed to standing up for vulnerable workers in our pursuit to make life better for all British Columbians,” Ralston said.

Job seekers wanting to put their best foot forward at the Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair can come prepared, now that a tentative list of nearly 40 educational institutions and prospective employers has been posted.

Some of the exhibitors expected include B.C. Assessment, Black Press Media, Canadian Forces, Canadian Coast Guard, CBI Health Group, Cermaq Canada, Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers Canada, Commissionaires, Discovery Community College, Eden Gardens, Kiwanis Village Nanaimo, Work B.C., RCMP, Retirement Concepts, Sun Life Financial, Tilray, Trillium Care, Vancouver Island University and Western Canada Marine Response Corporation, to name a few. A full list can be found at this link.

The Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair will be Thursday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Nanaimo Curling Centre on Wall Street.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/blackpresscareerfair/.

RELATED: Security company seeking workers to meet growing demand on the Island



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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