Poor Economy Sinks Manufacturing Job Fair

[Jon Katz]

Here's a grim reminder of the current economic state: A manufacturing job fair that was scheduled to take place at Purdue University was postponed until October because of the poor economy.

"Regrettably, the manufacturing industry is suffering during these difficult economic times,” Purdue Calumet Director of Career Services Shelly Robinson said. “We look forward to holding this job fair next fall and will continue to register employers interested in participating.”

[Sylvan]

Not to down-play the post, BUT...this was an event at Purdue "Calumet" in Hammond IN...not the main campus in West Lafayette, IN...it is more understandable that manufacturers have cut out some job fairs at satellite campuses...curious as to the status of a similar event at the main Purdue campus in West Lafayette, IN.

[Jon Katz]

Thanks for the clarification Sylvan. I did find that a high-tech career fair in West Lafayette was canceled back in February and others around the country have reached a similar fate like this one in South Carolina.

[wesdavidson]

It would be hard to hold a fair like that anywhere in the country.

Utah State University in Logan UT held a job fair in mid March, it was generally well attended. I spoke to employers likely to hire engineering graduates. I do this every year, see who is hiring and what companies look good, and what they need in a new hire.

Everthing was weaker. Companies who normally hire dozens were looking for single digits, those who hire single digits were looking for individuals.

Civil engineering, environmental remediation and military contractors were strong, on par with recent years and political changes. Local manufacturers who showed up were being carefull, but were willing to interview to cherry pick good engineering and buisiness grads. This has always been a challenging geographic area to be in manufacturing, shipping costs are high and the support base of suppliers is thin. (we tend to be outsourced to rather than from, we call this area "america's china" based on low wages, no unions, etc.) Those who showed up rated the climate challenging but not utterly impossible.

Senior engineering students are not bragging about job offers this year, some have offers, some will stay for grad school. Usually by this time many have firm offers the rest are picking and choosing, this year if they get an interview they are really prepping for it. In over 20 years I think this is a slow as I have seen it.
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As for the area in general. Construction companies are slow or on hold on hiring, most haven't brought back personel laid off in the fall. Shops producing fabbed parts for construction are dead slow. Manufacturers here are a mixed bag, those doing cheap consumer stuff like breakfast cereal or diapers or that have government contracts are ok. Lazy boy, and travel trailer companies are gone. 3 local medical implant companies have consolidated recently, similar products, machined titanium etc they will try to save some overhead. Aerospace has been laying off some workers, with the end of the minuteman and shuttle programs, engineers are mostly still working, trying to get more contracts.

A friend says his company is bidding on a half dozen economic stimulus water treatment projects worth $5 to $10 million each. Manufacturers in that field may see the benifits before consumer commodities like cars and appliances.

Walmart is opening a new super center, 3rd in a valley of 100,000 people, 350 jobs. what more can you say.
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update -since the above was written a week ago, I have been asking students how the job hunt is going, each has had applications out, out of twelve students, one has a job lined up. April is a little early, but these is a low rate at 8%. In the past we have enjoyed about a 50% to 75% offer rate by graduation, and about a 90% offer rate by the end of the summer.

[Abogle]

I caught a piece on the news a couple weeks ago about a job fair in suburban Boston MA. over 15,000 people showed up for a potential of about 150 jobs. They had to shut it down - the place was packed and spilling out on the streets, the shuttle bus service was overwhelmed