Saturday, June 29, 2013

Hundreds Denied Access to DC Job Fair

06/29/2013

DC Job Fair Sees 450 Applicants More Than Expected

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Friday, hundreds of people got in line for a job fair held by United Planning Organization. They were hoping for one on one time with potential employers, but there was such a large turnout some job seekers said they were turned away. Many people went home frustrated when they found out they would not be able to participate.

We were told that 1,200 people showed up when there was a cutoff number of 750 people to attend the job fair at the Petey Greene Center. The people in line had been standing there since early Friday morning.

WUSA 9's Delia Goncalves spoke to an organizer of the job fair in Ward 8 at noon. She admitted that the need was greater than they anticipated but insisted they did not turn anyone away. She told us that the organization collected applications from everyone in line and told people to come back on Monday for face-to-face time with potential employers.

Ward 8 has among the highest unemployment rate in the city.

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