Pocono News Section

Thousands Turn Out for Job Fair at Arena

Thousands Turn Out for Job Fair at Arena - Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 5:15PM EST

WILKES-BARRE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY- Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is the highest its been in decades. Job fairs are getting slammed when they come around. So it's no wonder Tuesday's job fair at Wachovia Arena was packed.
Job seeker Frank DeNunzio said, "Basically anything at this point type of thing. Something that you can still keep the roof over your head."

And with hundreds of other job seekers here, DeNunzio has a lot of competition. People like Russell Piccotti. "Just walking around looking to see what's available out there right now," he said.

But with a tough economy, it’s not easy. "It seems like there's not much going on out there for everybody. Whether it be construction or another case," he added.

So Piccotti is doing the right thing and applying for work here. He's dropping his application at one of the dozens of booths.

A sense of urgency is felt by many here. And a sense of uncertainty is also shared. Karen Burton of Tunkhannock said, "With the economy the way it is you know you just don't know anymore, you just don't know. You're job's just not safe, you don't know anymore."

And one great way to find out what jobs are out there is through job fairs like this one. This fair is billed as the largest in Northeastern Pennsylvania.