Opportunities abound at upcoming Holmes Job Expo
The 2025 Holmes County Job Expo will take place at Harvest Ridge in the expo center April 29 from noon to 3 p.m., providing opportunities for employers and employees to connect.
All around the nation, employers are still seeking capable, qualified employees, and much like the rest of the nation, jobs are out there for people who are seeking employment in Holmes County.
OhioMeansJobs is hoping to help fill some of those roles with an exciting upcoming event designed to connect employers with employees.
The 2025 Holmes County Job Expo will take place at Harvest Ridge in the expo center April 29 from noon to 3 p.m., and event organizers are eager to put the two interested sides of the ledger together.
The Holmes County OhioMeansJobs Center will host the event, and employer registration remains open and available to businesses seeking employees.
The list of employers represented at the job expo continues to grow, and organizers hope to see that number continue to trend upward.
“We are hoping to exceed the 65 employers we had represented at last year’s expo,” said Lisa Vansickle, OhioMeansJob Holmes County program manager. “Businesses and organizations can continue to sign up until that day, and we even accept walk-ups at the event.”
Those numbers mean a true picture of all of the job opportunities available in and around Holmes County.
Vansickle said this job expo is critical because finding qualified employees or those willing to be trained continues to be in high demand.
“We have employers reaching out to our agency all the time, and unfortunately, we have nobody to refer to them because we don’t have folks coming in looking for employment,” Vansickle said.
She said they are currently exploring new options to help generate additional prospects for people seeking work and continue to encourage people to explore possible work options.
She also said the hope is that area high school juniors and seniors take advantage of this opportunity, not only for full-time employment options after they are through high school but also for part-time and summer work.
She said even attending the event to experience the variety of jobs available might help upperclassmen gain insight into fields they’d like to explore if they plan to attend college but are unsure what field they’d like to pursue.
“A lot of people don’t know what they want to do for a career, and this is a chance for them to figure some things out,” Vansickle said. “This event is for anyone seeking employment, and it’s free to attend.”
Nicole Lepley, OhioMeansJobs eligibility/referral specialist, added that these types of events are crucial to the ongoing battle for employers finding quality people to fill a growing number of job roles that continue to remain open and available.
“It’s still a struggle,” Lepley said of Ohio businesses filling their employment needs. “There’s a lot of options to explore out there, and this gives people a chance to walk around the expo, talk to people and see what is out there, and there is a lot out there when it comes to employment.”
The representation at the event is wide-ranging, from area banking institutions and factories like Case Farms, Robin Industries, Mullwoods, Weaver Leather and Yoder Lumber, to nursing and care facilities, retail businesses such as taxidermy, engaging companies like WKLM Radio and even larger names like Walmart.
“We’ve got an excellent variety,” Vansickle said.
On the employee side of the event, if anyone needs assistance with a resume, improving their interviewing skills or needs advice on what to wear to better introduce themselves during the event, they are invited to stop by OhioMeansJobs Holmes County, where professionals can help people prepare to shine.
Lepley said they are ready to help possible employees learn how to present themselves in the best possible light to employers.
“First impressions are critical,” Lepley said. “Our hope is that employees take the opportunity to stop in here at the office and learn what steps to take to develop their abilities and presentations.”
The job expo should create a perfect chance for employers and employees to connect, build relations, share information, and above all, fill critical positions for employers while providing meaningful work experience for those interested in finding employment.
“This gives people a chance to introduce themselves and engage with employers,” Vansickle said. “It can open the door for new experiences and possibly pursuing employment in a field someone may have never thought about before.”
There are still opportunities for businesses to set up tables at the expo, and any company wanting to participate may contact Vansickle by emailing Lisavansickle@jfs.ohio.gov or Nicole.Lepley@jfs.ohio.gove or by calling the JFS office at 330-763-8729.