Strong Turnout at Mayor's Job Workshop

Nearly 40 local residents turned out for a job-hunting workshop that served as a warmup for next month’s city-wide job fair, a centerpiece of Mayor Arthur Vigeant’s efforts to bring and keep businesses--and jobs--in the city. 

Michael C. Berry, executive aide to Vigeant, said the turnout met or exceeded organizers’ expectations. “This is pretty unique having a municipality being the organizing force behind something like this,” Berry told Patch. “We think this is great for our first try.”

Berry said the job fair, which the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation is spearheading with help from Quinsigamond Community College, grew out of the mayor’s meetings with business owners and executives.

“Ohe thing he heard over and over again was that businesses want to grow,” he said. “To do that, and to stay here, they need access to strong talent."

Vigeant opened Wednesday night’s workshop with brief remarks to the attendees, most of whom appeared to be mid-career workers with resumes they were eager to get into the hands of employers. Vigeant said additional resources may be made available in the future, but hoped that none of the people gathered in the science lecture hall at Marlborough High School would need them.

“Hopefully you’ll all be too busy working at your new jobs,” he said.

The job fair comes as Massachusetts employment is on the uptick, with employers adding 2,500 jobs in April and the unemployment rate fell to 6.3 percent, its lowest level since 2008, according to the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

The Marborough Works Job Fair is scheduled for June 13 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marrriot Hotel. It is free and open to the public. .