The City of St. Charles Missouri will host the “Discover Your Future” job fair in Effingham later this month. St. Charles Economic Development Director David Leezer said that the goal of the fair was to help fill a labor gap in St. Charles County. “It is not unusual for communities to travel to other states to recruit industries. We are taking that concept to the next level to address our noted labor shortage,” stated Leezer. Part of the event is also showcasing St. Charles’ amenities such as its parks and education system.
One reason Effingham was selected is due to its proximity to St. Charles. Leezer said that commuting to the region would be reasonable, but hopes that people would end up resettling there. “That part of Illinois is about 60 to 90 minutes away, so commuting to our region should not be a problem. Hopefully, the new employees will recognize our numerous quality of life assets and eventually become St. Charles residents.”
Representatives from numerous industries in the area will attend with positions available in entry level customer service to welding and engineering. Skilled and unskilled workers are welcome. Some of the companies attending include Coke Cola and Embassy Suites.
“Southern Illinois University – Carbondale recently issued a report stating nearly 50% of Generation X and Millennials want to leave Illinois. Two prominent reasons were the considerably high tax structure and the extreme dysfunction in the state. By contrast, Missouri’s reputation for stable government operations and low taxes – both at the state and local levels – is an attractive feature for these individuals,” Leezer added.
The “Discover your Future” Job Fair will take place on Tuesday, March 28th from 10 AM-6 PM at the Thelma Keller Convention Center.
Click to hear an interview with WCRC’s Eric Frye and David Leezer.