MONROE--Seven hundred job seekers flocked to last year?s career fair at South Piedmont Community College, lining the sidewalk well before doors opened.

The school expects a similar turnout at today?s fair.

?We did make a lot of good connections last year,? Michelle Ellis, recruitment specialist for Carolinas Medical Center-Union, said. ?It?s definitely a job fair that we support.?

CMC-Union has about 20 open positions, she said, and hopes to recruit nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a security officer and medical lab technician.

Last year?s fair brought out 60 vendors, many not hiring, but hoping to assist locals in the job search.

Today?s event will be the same mix.

Terri Cato, head counselor of Monroe?s Vocational Rehabilitation Services, has more and more clients with advanced degrees.

?The jobs just aren?t out there for them,? she said.

North Carolina?s unemployment rate ? seasonally adjusted ? sat at 9.8 percent in February 2009 and rose to 11.2 percent this past February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

The national unemployment rate has been 9.7 percent since January.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services works with people who have physical or mental disabilities, problems with substance abuse or other limitations to employment.

The state agency offers employers incentives ? including tax credits and on-the-job training ? to give its clients a shot.

What do employers look for?

CMC-Union streses people skills and health care training. Greiner Bio-One wants its employees to be math and science savvy.

?Our business has been very good,? Rick McInnis, Greiner Bio-One vice president of finance, said. ?We?ve seen some increased production.?

McInnis? company manufactures medical supplies and could use some machine operators and maintenance workers.

The number of company employees jumped from 47 in 2001 to its current 227, including outside sales and technical services positions across the country, McInnis said. About 80 employees are based in Monroe.

Lt. Bryan Gilliard with the Monroe Police Department also seeks prospects.

Gilliard expects to meet young college candidates interested in a law enforcement career or older adults hoping for a different career path.

Attracting SPCC students of various ages and backgrounds, ?we are able to select our candidates who are a direct reflection of the community they serve,? he said.

For those who can?t find the right job fit, Union County Public Library representatives will also be on hand to talk about their computer classes and job search assistance.

Libraries offer free Internet access and databases to help job seekers create resumes.

?We?re here to help them the best we can to find a job,? Andy Flynt, a reference services librarian, said.

The career fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SPCC, 4209 Old Charlotte Highway.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

What kind of training does the job require? How much will it pay? Should you go back to school?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers an Occupational Outlook Handbook to answer those questions. It also provides job search tips and a breakdown of the local job market.

For more information, visit www.bls.gov/oco.

PRELIMINARY EMPLOYER/JOB HELP LIST

American General Life & Accident

American Insurance Marketing Solutions

American Red Cross

Autobell Car Wash

Bayada Nurses

Carolina Medical Center-Union

Carolina Workforce Development Board

Child Care Resources Inc.

Christian Companion Senior Care

Competitive Workforce Alliance

Council on Aging

Employment Security Commission

Gardner-Webb University

Greiner Bio-One

Legacy Estate Services Inc.

Liberty Tax Service

Literacy Council of Union County

Mary Kay Cosmetics

Modern Woodmen of America

Monroe Fire Department

Monroe Police Department

Monroe-Union County Community Development Corporation

N.C. Army National Guard

N.C. Department of Corrections

Neighborhood Nurses

North Carolina District Courts

Presbyterian Hospital-Matthews

Regina?s School of Beauty

Robert Half International

Safer Communities Ministry

Small Business Administration-Charlotte

Stanly Regional Medical Center

State Employees Credit Union

State Highway Patrol

Time Warner Cable

Tomboy Tools

Twisted Entertainment

Union County Community Action

Union County Department of Social Services

Union County Job Ready Partnership

Union County Public Library

Union County Public Schools

Union County Sheriff?s Office

University of Phoenix

U.S. Army

U.S. Marine Corps

U.S. Navy

Usborne Books

Vocational Rehabilitation

Voter Registration

Windstream Communications