Firms struggle to fill openings

Nearly 70 expected at Times Union Job fair

Job seekers are in the driver’s seat.

The upcoming Times

Union Job Fair has attracted nearly 70 recruiters and exhibitors seeking to fill vacant positions. The job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at the Albany Marriott hotel, 189 Wolf Road, Colonie, and is free to job seekers.

A strong economy is powering demand for workers in the Capital Region and nationwide.

On Friday, the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent for September, down from 3.9 percent in August and the lowest it’s been since 1969.

The Capital Region’s jobless rate in August also was

3.7 percent. September figures won’t be available until later this month.

But businesses are scrambling to find qualified employees.

The latest Economic Outlook Survey from M&T Bank found that 77 percent of respondents were having trouble finding and hiring qualified employees. And 32 percent said they plan to boost hiring, although that’s down from 34 percent a year earlier.

Meanwhile, there are as many job openings in the Northeast as there are people seeking jobs, said Kevin Alexander, state labor markets analyst, citing July data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The challenge: matching skills with job requirements.

The tight labor market suggests that pressure is building on employers to raise wages.

Amazon is among a number of employers boosting the minimum wage they pay to $15 an hour. Tierra Farm last week said it has been paying that for more than three years.

At least one gas station in Colonie is still looking for help despite also offering $15 an hour to start.