The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is hosting a summer job fair for youth from ages 16 to 21 Thursday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stargazer’s Theater, 10 South Parkside Dr. in Colorado Springs.The job fair will kick off the 2012 Governor’s Summer Job Hunt program, which connects local businesses with young people looking for short-term summer jobs.Local employers scheduled to attend include the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, The Broadmoor, Time Warner Cable, the Pikes Peak Library District, Bison Media Inc., Primerica Financial Services, Colorado Lions Camp, Garden of the Gods Club and Brunswick Zone.ìYoung people have been hardest hit during this recession,î said Michelle Graham, business and community initiatives director for PPWC.This is the toughest job market and the highest level of unemployment for 16-to-19-year-olds since labor market data was first collected in 1947. Their unemployment rate is anywhere from 26 to 51 percent for certain demographics and minority groups, Graham said.She has been working with Falcon School District 49 to promote the event; D 49 students can check with their guidance counselor to see if the school is providing transportation to the job fair.More information is available at http://ppwfc.org. Click the ìGovernor’s Summer Job Huntî link under the ìYouth Zoneî heading. There is also a link to each employerís Web site so job hunters can research the companies ahead of time and complete online job applications, if available.Attendees are advised to dress neatly and bring their Social Security number, several copies of their resume ñ and information, such as reference contacts, needed to fill out job applications.Graham is still lining up employers for the job fair. To contact her, call 719-667-3700.
