Westmoreland job fair helps fill vacancies

Westmoreland County’s inaugural job fair was so successful officials said they may hold them more than once a year.

“We will look to do it twice a year, if not quarterly,” said Amanda Bernard, the county’s human resources director.

The county filled about 30 vacant positions through last week’s event at the Ramada Inn in Hempfield. A handful of departments sought to fill as many as 50 positions. Many job offers were tendered on the spot with other positions filled quickly after. Additional jobs are expected to be filled from the pool of nearly 160 people who attended the fair, Bernard said.

Officials hired 10 part-time guards for the county jail. Those workers will soon begin training classes, Warden John Walton said.

The county’s children’s bureau hired nine caseworkers and other office staff with two open positions expected to be filled in the coming days, Bernard said.

The county received 15 applications to fill eight 911 dispatcher jobs. Those applications are being reviewed.

Applications were received for nursing jobs at Westmoreland Manor, the county nursing home, where as many as 15 positions need to be filled, officials said. Other jobs at the courthouse and various other departments are still being sought, she said.

The county has a workforce of about 1,900 employees.

Bernard said future job fairs will enable the county to compile a list of potential applicants for newly open jobs.

“It was a very successful event and now we want to be able to keep a steady flow of applicants,” Bernard said.

Available positions can be found online under the employment tab on the county’s website.