The “Jobs Are in the Air” public job fair, organized in partnership with WorkSource and South Central Workforce, took place today at the Yakima Convention Center, offering job seekers an opportunity to connect with over 35 local businesses.

Employers at the event included the Yakima Training Center, Legends Casino Hotel, and the Yakima School District, which provided a variety of entry-level and skilled positions for attendees.

Beth Eukel-Nutter, a job seeker with a diverse career background, attended the fair looking for new opportunities. She is open to roles such as a parent educator or cafeteria cook at the Yakima School District.

Eukel-Nutter, who has an interest in hospitality and tourism, said she was excited about the event.

“I didn’t manage my money well, and now I need to contribute to the success and happiness of my grandchildren, as well as myself,” Eukel-Nutter said. “I found out about the job fair, and here I am. It’s awesome to see so many people here. It does my heart good to see the community’s needs being met this way, helping people find jobs and living wages. Life’s short, so why shouldn’t we fall in love with our job and do something that inspires us, not just something for the money?”

John Brooks, Operations Manager for Triumph Group Yakima, returned to the job fair for the second time in hopes of finding local talent.

“Last year, we hired a quality technician from this event and found a gentleman with his aircraft maintenance license, which was a perfect fit for our repair department,” Brooks said. “We’re back again this year with the same goal—finding skilled workers in our community.”

Additional job fairs are expected throughout the year.