Poor turnout at Canadian jobs fair

Just 300 people showed up to a Canadian jobs fair in Cork which drew more than 10,000 jobseekers in Dublin at the weekend.

Security staff and barriers were put in place at the Ambassador Hotel in the city to deal with expected large numbers for the British Columbia Construction Association’s (BCCA) delegation.

However, only about 300 people showed up for the day-long event.

BCCA vice president Abigail Fulton said the low numbers were “surprising” but said the quality of candidates attending was very high.

“The numbers are quite low compared to what we had been told there might be. In saying that, maybe quite a few people from Cork travelled to Dublin at the weekend.

“It’s not a jobs expo. We are here with a number of employers seeking to fill specific jobs in specific trades and we are getting a steady flow of people. The standard of qualified trades has been very high, so the employers are happy and they are making job offers,” she said.

Ms Fulton said those who did not get a chance to make it to the Cork event could still submit CVs to www.fswbc.com. The BCCA is not a jobs agency but matches recruits to member firms and agrees terms for them in advance.

Besides 500 jobs that need filling as soon as possible, another 2,000 vacancies will arise over the next couple of years and up to 20,000 vacancies need to be filled in the longer term.

Anyone with suitable training and experience who is not offered a job will be placed on the BCCA database.

Meanwhile, Australian firms from the hospitality and business sectors are also in Ireland trying to fill over 5,000 jobs.

Bradley Woods, CEO of the Australian Hotels Association, said positions of offer at free seminars in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin yesterday and today, would be a fantastic opportunity for young Irish people looking to gain overseas experience.

“Imagine being able to live and work in a state where you can swim with whale sharks, go prospecting for gold, enjoy world-class local wines and food, and be a part of one of the most liveable and fastest-growing capital cities in the world. It’s all in extraordinary Western Australia,” he said.