1,000 job openings available at Manufacturing Career Expo

MILWAUKEE -- Dozens of employers hoped to fill 1,000 job openings at the Manufacturing Career Expo on Thursday, May 10th at State Fair Park.

72 employers looking to fill roughly 1,000 job openings took part in Thursday's expo. The companies hiring include: Genment,  Generac, Briggs and Stratton, and P & H.

Employers say there are a wide range of jobs available, from general production workers that pay around $10 an hour, to highly skilled positions that pay up to $40 an hour.

Ortez Guzman has 25 years of experience as a maintenance technician but has been unemployed for the past five months. He was one of many looking for the right fit during Thursday's expo. "It can be confusing and frustrating, but you've got to be determined," Guzman said.

Over the last few years, Wisconsin has lost a number of jobs in the manufacturing sector. Employers say they are hiring, they're just looking to find the right workers with the right skill-set.

"You (potential employees) need to have some basic math and problem solving skills. Today's manufacturing is high technology. You need to be able to use computers, face complex equipment, and you need to be able to work in a team environment," Mary Isbister said.

Those interested in the Manufacturing Career Expo had to per-register for the event. Interested employees needed to create a resume online and take a self-assessment.

Employers plan to follow up with job candidates this week over the phone, and in one-on-one interviews next week.