Successful hiring fair for displaced federal workers focused on government jobs

  • Job seekers

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By Craig Carroll, Employment Security Department Business Operations Manager

Screenshot of Commissioner Cami Feek welcoming job seekers to a hiring event for displaced federal and state government workers. She's standing in front of a blue background with the ESD logo.
Employment Security Department Commissioner Cami Feek recorded a video to welcome participants of the virtual job fair for laid off federal and state workers. 

“Your dedication to public service is invaluable, and we deeply appreciate the skills and experience you bring,” she said. “I know that many of you didn't expect to find yourselves seeking new employment, and that can be tough.

“Please remember you're not alone. At Employment Security and through our statewide WorkSource offices, we're here to support you every step of the way during this transition.”

The Employment Security Department hosted a targeted hiring fair to support displaced federal workers seeking new job opportunities. In addition to federal workers, the team invited employees facing layoff at Employment Security. The event, held virtually on May 15, focused on connecting job seekers with state, county and local government employers.

To maximize engagement, the team executed a comprehensive outreach strategy, partnering with the Washington State Association of Counties and the Association of Washington Cities. We shared information about the event with Washington State HR to expand awareness among hiring professionals. 

Additionally, we sent a survey to our target audience: unemployment claimants who were former federal workers. We collected data on their previous agencies, roles and skillsets — helping potential employers tailor recruitment to meet the needs of these job seekers.

The results speak for themselves:

  • 32 employers participated.
  • 384 job seekers registered and an impressive 237 (62%) attended. 
  • 433 virtual chats were completed, representing all the conversations between employers and candidates. 

The Employment Security team will conduct follow-up surveys to determine how many job seekers found work and how many positions employers filled. 

Employment Security is proud of this collaborative hiring fair! We used innovative outreach to help workers affected by federal employment shifts find meaningful opportunities in public service.