Residents attend Military and Civilian Job Fair in Biloxi

Applicants filed into the Biloxi Civic Center in search of jobs at the Gulf Coast Military and Civilian Job Fair.

News 25’s Austin Lindsey followed a few applicants to get their perspectives about the job market.

The search is on for those who are just looking for a position that fits their skills or to just start fresh in a new career.

Meet Wayne and Will. Wayne recently moved to the Coast to be closer to his fiancé and Will is a recently retired veteran of the Air Force. Each with their own paths, but both with the desire to find not only a job, but a newfound purpose. Wayne said, “It just made better sense for me and my fiancé that I move here and get a job. I’m very motivated. And luckily enough I got here just three days ago, and it was the job fair.”

Will said, “The biggest challenge is adapting, is you kind of set in the military background. So, it’s very difficult. Initially you start off but I hear once you get into something, kind of network, so praying for that opportunity today.”

The Gulf Coast Military and Civilian job Fair is one of 40 fairs in the state and one of five on the Coast done each year by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. “Where they had a list of what was available. You can kind of filter out what you’re interested in and go from there. Just walk from table to table. It was set up well and it was decent experience for me today.”

“Very easy, you know, number one, I found that a lot of people they tend to be either standoffish or intimidated. I don’t know they don’t want to be very communicative. But if you just go and present yourself, you know, these people are not here to judge you. They’re here to give you a job. They need the workers.”

According to Mississippi Labor Market Data, the state’s unemployment percentage rounds off to 3.1, down two-tenths from last year’s numbers. For Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock counties, each calculates lower than the state’s threshold.

With unemployment dropping since COVID, Corey Richard, the staff consultant for various businesses at Pride Staff, says he’s seen both sides of workers psychology since the pandemic. “It changed them at their core and in senses, so it’s harder for them to have that ethic that they used to have, to getting out every day.  People are getting back into that regular and that normal and more opportunities are opening up. More businesses are opening. We’re seeing it every day. We’re getting more job orders every day, from the businesses that we work with.”

And for their thoughts on the perfect work environment. “The perfect environment one would be a healthy environment, you know, where everyone feels inclusive. Things being more direct, you know, set expectations. And then also, you know, when those expectations are broken, you know, proper discipline, you know, equally.”

“Thank God that I’ve been blessed to be offered two positions I’ve already got an interview time tomorrow.”

For more information visit jobfairs.ms.gov.