The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is participating in a virtual career fair - Jobs at Home ExpoLive '08. Through partnership with the business community and CareerBeacon.com, the province is working to provide an innovative way to post and access career opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, made the announcement today. Other partners in the project include the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition, Steele Communications Inc., and CareerBeacon.com.

"This is a fine example of the Provincial Government working in partnership with the business community," said Minister Skinner. "This initiative will provide an additional resource for both employers and those seeking employment to access job opportunities here at home."

The virtual career fair will be held October 22-29, and will be available to every person who has access to the internet. Jobs at Home ExpoLive '08 will allow employers from across the province to post more than 1,000 jobs free of charge on the CareerBeacon.com virtual career fair website. New jobs will be added daily. Those who do not have home-access to the Internet are encouraged to visit local Community Access Program sites or Career Work Centres located across the province to access the website.

"The fair is appealing because of the opportunity it provides to recruit employees," said Denis Mahoney, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition. "Using the Internet is a creative and cost-effective way to allow potential candidates to read about what positions are available and apply for them immediately."

This unique approach will address the areas of promoting the retention, repatriation and recruitment of workers while ensuring employers have access to the labour market and encouraging workers to return to the province.

"The fair will focus on providing job details for people currently looking for work, or for better positions, or for the means to return home," said Jean Nadeau, CareerBeacon.com general manager. "The jobs offered will range from the so-called white collar jobs to trades workers, to knowledge industry workers and run the gamut from full professional posts to part-time and entry level positions."

Seventy per cent of the existing 215,000 CareerBeacon.com users are passive career seekers who are currently employed and are on standby waiting to seize the right opportunity.

"The Provincial Government does participate in a number of traditional job fairs and has provided increased access to labour market information across the province," said Minister Skinner. "Online advertising is becoming the way of the future for the business community. We are working with them to make sure that all businesses in the province have an opportunity to use this cost-effective and efficient method that could help them reach thousands of potential workers throughout the province and across the country."

Budget 2008 has allocated $5.3 million to better connect employers and job seekers in today�s competitive labour market. These initiatives will improve and enhance accessibility to labour market information and the province�s ability to attract, recruit and retain workers.

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