Looking for work? How these Miami job fairs can help you survive the slowdown
The U.S. labor market outlook continues to worsen, with a slowdown in job creation and an increase in unemployment claims. Add falling incomes and stagnant wages while consumer prices keep rising, and job seekers need all the help they can get.
Help is coming.
South Florida will see several job fairs in September and October focused on a range of industries and offering opportunities to interview with company representatives who are hiring either virtually or in person.
Hialeah, Wynwood and Doral will have fairs that allow for networking and direct conversations with employers to submit résumés and learn firsthand the qualifications they require.
Here are the details of upcoming job fairs in the Miami area:
- Hilton Garden Inn Miami Dolphin Mall: Fair for sales and administrative professionals, with emphasis on hiring managers, Sept. 16, 6-8 p.m. at 1695 NW 111th Ave., Suite A.
- Northeastern University: Job and leadership fair, organized by the Cámara de Comercio de Wynwood and the Department of Human Resources of the city of Miami. Sept. 19, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., 230 NW 24th St. Miami, fifth floor.
- University of Miami: School-related fair to share information about opportunities in the education sector, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.–noon., Lakeside Village Pavilion, UM campus, 1280 Stanford Dr. in Coral Gables.
- Miami Virtual Job Fair: Sept. 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at besthirecareerfairs.com
- MDC North: General job fair sponsored by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Oct. 1, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Miami Dade College, North Campus, 11380 NW 27th Ave.
- Doral: Health and careers fair presented by Florida Blue, Oct. 23, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., 8600 NW 36th St.
Inflation rises and wages stagnate
Inflation rose in August, and only 22,000 jobs were added nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, unemployment benefit claims reached 263,000 last week, the highest level since 2021.
Most employment sectors have slowed, with hospitality, services and retail — major players in Miami-Dade County — among the hardest hit. The only areas showing slight growth were warehousing and utilities.
Wage growth is slowing as well. From July to August, real earnings fell 0.1% after inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, suggesting prices are rising faster than incomes, NBC News reported.
Hiring dynamics currently favor employers, Haiyong Liu, professor in the Department of Finance and Economics at Texas State University, said in a report on states with rising unemployment claims from WalletHub earlier in September.
Hiring is concentrated in a few areas, notably healthcare, while most major industries show little change. Vacancies have fallen to about 7.4 million positions and the quit rate is approaching its 2017–2019 range, indicating workers are less likely to change jobs, Liu said.
