EASTON, Pa. — George Corriere has a lot to say.
He opened his mouth and his life’s résumé poured out with nary a stop sign.
Easton guy his whole life. Navy vet. Crayola employee back in the day. Gave blood the other day. Has a reliable car.
What he doesn’t have is a job.
“I’m undecided what job I’d like or can do because I don’t have a lot of job skills. But I can learn.”George Corriere, 74, Easton
“My Social Security is all I have, so I’m looking for a part-time job,” Corriere, 74, said at the Pennsylvania CareerLink/Workforce Lehigh Valley jobs tent outside the Crayola Experience on Tuesday morning.
“I’m undecided what job I’d like or can do because I don’t have a lot of job skills, but I can learn.”
Corriere was among job seekers gathering information from CareerLink and Workforce representatives during the daylong event.
The job hut was part of Lehigh Valley PA CareerLink Awareness Days, with job huts — essentially pop-up employment offices — in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
Prospective employees reviewed CareerLink fliers in both English and Spanish displayed on a table inside the tent, or job hut, that instructed folks how to find job opportunities in person or online.
Among the information on the table was a 22-page packet showing more than 600 full- and part-time openings in a variety of blue- and white-collar jobs throughout the Lehigh Valley.
“We’ve had events like this in the past, but nothing this big,” Workforce Lehigh Valley Executive Assistant Vanessa Torres said.
“We’ve had inhouse job fairs to help people find work. We believe events like this will be even more effective.”
Looking for workers
Diego Ramos lost his job last year working in a warehouse.
“I can operate a forklift and other heavy equipment,” Ramos, of Allentown, said. “I’m a good worker. I just need a job. Somebody said this would be a good place to find one.”
Launched in July 2012, PA CareerLink is part of the state Department of Labor & Industry’s initiative to transform the landscape of how job-seekers find family-sustaining jobs and how employers find the skilled candidates they need.
Through this initiative, a user-friendly, premiere job-matching system has been created to help bridge the gap that currently exists between job seekers and employers.
“People have lots of options now; they don’t take jobs right away. They’re looking at all their options. I get it.”Tulan Monroe, front office supervisor at Courtyard Bethlehem Lehigh Valley
Tulan Monroe also was at the job hut looking — for folks to hire.
A front office supervisor at Courtyard Bethlehem Lehigh Valley, Monroe delivered employment information for an assortment of jobs at the hotel, including front desk worker, maintenance, housekeeping and supervisor.
“We’re looking to fill four jobs right now,” Monroe said. “With the [low] unemployment figures today, it’s been challenging finding workers for those jobs.
“People have lots of options now; they don’t take jobs right away. They’re looking at all their options. I get it.”
The unemployment rate in both Lehigh County and Northampton County was 3.8% as of July 30.
The state employment is at 3.4%. The national unemployment rate is 4.3%.
That data can be deceiving when gauging the percentage of people looking for work, said Tom Barndt, a state career advisor for PA CareerLink.
“Unemployment figures are low, but they don’t tell the whole story,” Barndt said.
“Some people who were looking for work — like those whose unemployment compensation ran out after 26 weeks — have fallen off the books. There are lots of people looking for work.”
More job huts ahead
The job hut outside the Crayola Experience also will be held from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28.
PA CareerLink staff also be at job huts directing job seekers from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the following locations:
- Downtown Allentown: Sept. 3, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Donley Center, 718 Hamilton St.; Sept. 4, Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion, 815 W. Hamilton St.
- Bethlehem, Southside/Northside: Sept. 10, Northampton Community College, Fowler Center, 511 E. Third St. parking lot.; Sept. 11, Bitty and Beau’s Coffee, 74 W. Broad St.
As for Corriere, he said he's ready, willing and able to work. He just needs to find the right fit — for the employer and himself.
"Sometimes, my cousin helps me out with some things, sends me some money," Corriere said. "I just need a little side job to help me along."
For more information about employment, go to www.careerlinklehighvalley.org, call 610-841-8335, or email careerlinkinfo@workforcelv.org.
