400 attend Walsall jobs fair as borough has 10,000 out of work

It comes as more than 10,000 people claim unemployment benefit in the borough.

Most of the poeple attending yesterday's event at Tameway Tower in the town centre had been out of work for more than a year. Training providers and recruitment agencies also took up pitches and there were six roles up for grabs at Premier Inn hotels across the Midlands.

The firm has already filled 65 vacancies created by a new £10 million hotel which will open at Walsall Waterfront in the next few weeks.

Staff from Transline Resource Group were at the event recruiting for Amazon, which recently announced it would take on 1,000 workers at its distribution centre in Rugeley.

Resourcer Lisa Clayton said: "We have had lots of really good, positive responses. Coming up to Christmas, it will be a strong company to work for."

The event was organised by Inspire 2 Independence.

Darren Schrouder, its employer engagement manager, said: "To have 400 jobseekers through the door is excellent, and proof indeed that there are plenty of people out there who are keen to get back into work as quickly as possible."

Latest figures show the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in?Walsall is 10,429, down by just six on the previous level for August.

Former retail worker Craig Nash, aged 25, of Penderel Street, Bloxwich, was at yesterday's event.

He said: "I've been out of work for about 12 months. I don't think there's enough help for young people trying to find work."

Shazia Rehman did a childcare course at Walsall College but has struggled finding a job over the last year. The 23-year-old, of Whitton Street, Darlaston, said: "I want to find work as a childcare assistant and this event has been very helpful."

Merrick Barry, 33, of Moxley Road, Darlaston, added: "It's hard to get a job at the moment."