Riverside County Job Fair Draws Nearly 2,000 Willing Workers Amid Sluggish Labor Market

INDIO, CA — Amid a sluggish regional employment market marked by higher-than-average jobless rates, more than 1,700 job seekers turned out last week for the 31st Valley-Wide Employment Expo at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

Nearly 100 employers representing hospitality, gaming, health care, government, transportation and education gathered Wednesday to offer thousands of open positions to attendees navigating a competitive local job market.

Riverside County’s unemployment rate stood at 6.2% in August, with several cities across the Coachella Valley facing even higher rates.

The annual event, which drew a line of eager applicants before doors even opened at 9 a.m., provided a direct pipeline between regional workers and hiring managers.

"It is kind of cool to see all these different companies in one spot," said Marlon Felix, 53, of Cathedral City, who attended his first job fair. "It’s encouraging to see all different age groups here. We are all trying to get ahead in life and provide for our families."

Employers praised the in-person format for streamlining the recruitment process.

"Being part of the HR team and recruiting, it is such a great resource for us," said Dulce Herrera of the Indio-based nonprofit ABC Recovery Center. "As an employer, we are able to meet the person one-on-one, really interact with them and see if a role would be a great fit."

The expo opened with the organizing committee presenting Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez with the Valley-Wide Partner Recognition Award, honoring his three decades of support for the event.

"For many years now, the Valley-Wide Employment Expo has been improving the lives of our residents by making sure they have access to good-paying jobs where they are happy and can support their families," Perez said upon accepting the award.

The expo is a collaborative partnership between the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Housing and Workforce Solutions’ Workforce Development, and the California Employment Development Department.

Job seekers can find information on upcoming hiring events online at RivCoWorkforce.org/events.