Unemployment elevated in Bexar County, however specialists say San Antonio’s well being care, manufacturing and logistics sectors are nonetheless rising.
Bexar County’s unemployment charge grew barely over the summer season, rising from 3.8% in Could and June to 4.4% in July.
Due to the 43-day federal authorities shutdown that ended on Thursday, there’s little knowledge accessible for the autumn.
Many jobseekers within the metropolis are sifting via the financial uncertainty and searching for steady, long-term profession alternatives. That is what attracted Kyle Keilmann to a current in-person recruiting occasion hosted by Goodwill.
“I want one thing to get into career-wise. In the event you’re probably not years into one thing, it’s laborious to get in, laborious to get entry-level [positions],” Keilmann mentioned on the Mega Job Truthful in September.
Some job hunters have already got employment, however are frightened about how an unsure financial system will have an effect on their present positions. Claudia Hernandez attended the Pink, White and You job truthful Thursday placed on by Workforce Options Alamo.
She has a job at Navistar, she mentioned, however she wished to be able to pivot, simply in case.
“Every part proper now, anyplace you go, it’s not steady,” Hernandez mentioned.
Carlos Contreras, president of Goodwill of San Antonio and chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, mentioned shifting federal insurance policies, cuts to the federal government’s workforce and the impression of tariffs and immigration enforcement are all elements affecting the job market.
“What we’re seeing, it’s a mirror of what’s taking place throughout the neighborhood,” Contreras mentioned. “There’s an uptick of unemployment, there’s a slowing of job development.”
He says that’s why many employers are in a “no-hire, however no-fire mode” as they wait to see what’s going to occur on the federal degree.
Data Expertise, or IT, jobs have been among the hardest hit. In keeping with the Metropolis of San Antonio’s Workforce Growth Director, Mike Ramsey, jobs within the IT sector have declined by 3.5% in comparison with final 12 months.
San Antonio continues to be rising, simply not as shortly, specialists say.
“As our area grows, extra jobs are being added and crammed, which has strengthened our workforce,” Ramsey mentioned in an e-mail.
Contreras mentioned that whereas the financial system could also be slowing, it’s not in a recession. In different phrases, it’s not shrinking. Sure industries are nonetheless searching for employees.
San Antonio employers are hiring a whole lot of employees
Richard Delgado Jr., Boeing’s senior neighborhood investor in San Antonio, was busy speaking to jobseekers at Workforce Options Alamo’s veteran job truthful this week.
The aerospace firm, which operates a facility at Port San Antonio, has nearly 400 open positions and is in search of mechanics and engineers.
“We have now loads of positions and the Boeing Firm, we’re persevering with to develop in San Antonio,” he mentioned. “We are inclined to lean in and preserve expertise grown in San Antonio in San Antonio.”
Delgado mentioned Boeing can look past the nationwide financial system as a result of it sells planes to world clients. The corporate has long-term contracts it has to fill, he added.
Workforce Options Alamo’s CEO Adrian Lopez oversees the regional job community’s efforts to assist individuals get employed. He mentioned well being care, manufacturing and building jobs are nonetheless in excessive demand.
“There are positively jobs which have been created 12 months over 12 months,” he mentioned. “These industries are nonetheless sturdy.”
Tony Carrizales, who works for Christus Well being on hiring and expertise acquisition within the area, mentioned the well being care supplier is seeking to fill patient-facing roles, like nurses and different medical positions, however can be hiring cafeteria employees and safety officers.
“We haven’t slowed down in any respect, we’re persevering with to broaden,” Carrizales mentioned. “Nothing has slowed down for us. If something, it has intensified. We’re getting lots of people searching for administrative features.”
In-person recruiting occasions have been necessary for filling these roles, he added, surveying a job truthful filled with tables and resumes and bustling with hirers and inquirers.
Recruiters say assembly somebody nose to nose permits them to higher perceive an individual.
Christus Well being can train job expertise, Carrizales mentioned, however can’t train comfortable expertise or cultural match. “In the event that they don’t match our tradition, their {qualifications} are nearly irrelevant,” he mentioned.
Attempting to ignite the in-person spark
Would-be employees like Daniel Muñoz are additionally searching for that cultural match at in-person occasions. Muñoz labored in knowledge administration and logistics, however was lately laid off.
It’s been 20 years since his final job search, he mentioned.
“Every part appears to be over the web,” he mentioned, including that he got here to the in-person occasion on Thursday as a result of “there’s extra of a private connection.”
Janelle Layden was searching for the same connection at Goodwill’s profession truthful in September. She works as a caregiver, however had seen her hours diminished lately and wished one thing extra steady.
Layden mentioned she had 140 purposes out in September.
“Can I simply get my foot within the door and present you who I’m?” Layden mentioned.
Workforce Options Alamo often attracts between 700 to 1,000 potential staff to its Pink, White and You job truthful. This 12 months, it moved the occasion to the Boeing Heart at Port San Antonio and projected 1,200 to 1,500 attendees. Goodwill’s Mega Job Truthful in September noticed the same enhance in attendance. The occasion often attracts 300 to 500 individuals. This 12 months’s had round 700.
Connecting individuals with alternatives
Contreras acknowledged that there may be gaps between roles that firms are hiring for and the {qualifications} of many candidates.
Workforce Options Alamo and Goodwill each have sources on-line and in-person profession facilities the place individuals can get coaching or jobseeking help. They each collaborate with Able to Work, the Metropolis of San Antonio’s employment program.
Sources embody assist with ability constructing, getting certifications or levels in technical fields. Generally, although, easy resume and interview coaching do the trick, Lopez mentioned. Some individuals simply want a greater alternative to market themselves.
“Individuals right here on this area, they’ve a skillset,” Lopez mentioned. “Let’s apply these expertise and people competencies to these job purposes.”
