Representatives from 40 Harnett County-area businesses will be on hand Wednesday in Sanford for a community jobs expo. According to a news release from the main sponsor, Central Carolina Community College, the expo will focus on jobs in the manufacturing sector and the skilled trades. 

“These jobs offer great starting salaries, from $14 to $30 an hour,” according to the release.

In addition to the businesses looking to fill positions, resource agencies will be available for job seekers who need information on childcare, transportation, and other support services. Free food from onsite food trucks will be available for all registered attendees.

Employers and agencies that plan to participate include 3DFS, LLC,  Adams Handmade Soap, ADUSA, Arauco, AtWork for You, Bear Creek Arsenal, BelFlex Staffing Network, Boon Edam Manufacturing, BuildSense, Bulldog Hose Company Inc., Cashion Fishing Rods, Caterpillar, Champion Hoist, Chatham County, Coty, Dorman Products, East Coast Firewood, Edelbrock, Express Employment Professionals, Frontier Yarns Inc., Gray Flex Systems Inc., Mertek Solutions Inc., Moen, Moody Dunbar Inc., Mountaire Farms Inc., PalletOne, Pentair, PHC Restoration, Pilgrim’s, PolarOnyx, PSSI, Sanford Contractors Inc., Southern Veneer Special Products, Static Control/Desco Industries Inc., STI Polymer, Triangle South Workforce Development Board, Tyson Foods and Zurn.

Although the reasons are subject to debate, U.S. employers in nearly all sectors are struggling to fill jobs. And the worker shortage is coming at a time when consumer demand is surging, as life for most Americans is returning to normal.

“It’s all come together at a time when everybody wants more of everything," the owner of a chicken hatchery told CNN Business. "It's a perfect storm."

Want to go?

A joint Community Job Expo will take place 2-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center, 1801 Nash St., Sanford.

Pre-registration is recommended at july21jobexpo.eventbrite.com.

For more information, call Christian Piard at 919-718-7065 or send an email to cpiard@cccc.edu.