Manufacturing job forecast draws hundreds to fair

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Calumet Chapter 112 and Purdue University Calumet Career Services hosted their fourth annual Manufacturing Industry Job Fair Wednesday.

Each previous fair averaged about 500 to 600 job seekers, but organizers believed that number would grow this year.

"Steel producing and car sales have been down and a lot of manufacturing depends on those industries so they've had to be creative and come up with new ventures," Shelly Robinson, PUC director of career services, said. "We've seen some companies close down, but then we've seen the birth of a lot of new companies that are growing and in that infancy stage."

Robinson said despite their witnessing people lose jobs, they've also seen a lot of growth in the manufacturing sector as well.

"A lot of what we're hearing is they're forecasting a great need coming in the spring," she said. "We're trying to make the community aware that there are different types of manufacturing in the state."

Jeff Hill, chair of the SME Calumet Chapter 112, said people are attending the job fair because manufacturing is increasing -- slowly.

"Just like the economy, unfortunately," he said.

Hill said they are trying to promote manufacturing education as well. Many SME members are PUC graduates.

"We want to not only encourage manufacturing in Northwest Indiana/Chicago area, but we also want to make sure the jobs stay here," he said.

Looking for a job in trucking or labor was Hammond resident Mike Dehenes.

"Everywhere you go there's no work, but you've got to stay positive," Dehenes said.

Dehenes also was looking into what jobs employers such as Aeromet, BP and PepsiAmericas was offering at the fair. Admitting he lacked computer skills, Dehenes said he planned to visit the fair's resource area to see what they had to offer education-wise.

Fellow attendee Dorothy Smart-Williams of East Chicago admitted she did not have a lot of manufacturing experience but said in this economy, "you have to go everywhere and anywhere in your job search."

"You have to be diligent and hope someone picks you up," she said.

Among current PUC students who attended the fair on their campus included MBA student Liang Ni, who was looking into possibilities with companies like Valdes Engineering. Ni said engineering could be in demand depending on the industry.

"In the auto industry it's probably not a good time but in energy, it's probably OK," he said.