Thousands of Illawarra job seekers will be employment "speed dating" today as Shellharbour City Stadium hosts the federal government's Jobs and Skills Expo.
More than 70 national and local employers in fields like mining, aged care, defence, hospitality and education are involved in the expo targeting unemployment and skills gaps.
Jane Robinson, a contractor for the Department of Eduction, Employment and Workplace Relations, said the expo included employers with current or imminent job vacancies, "rather than [job seekers] continually sending off resumes online and sometimes, or often, getting no response, which is incredibly demoralising".
"This is like speed-dating for getting a job," Ms Robinson said.
Expo stalls include Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill Mine Project, the Commonwealth Bank, Novotel, McDonald's Illawarra, Illawarra Retirement Trust, TAFE and local councils.
Ms Robinson said expo attendees should dress for a job interview, take several copies of their resume and keep an open mind about the type of job they were looking for.
The Jobs and Skills Expo is on today from 10am to 3pm at the Shellharbour City Stadium.
