ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance job fair drew at least 1,000 job seekers to the Baldwin County Coliseum April 9.

Job seekers lined up at employer’s tables, and could be seen standing at counters filling out applications. According to organizers, last year’s fair drew around 600 people.

Once a job seeker got to a company representative, it was show time. The candidate had a few minutes to listen to the recruiter, and impress him or her.

“The candidates are giving me a lot of information,” said Susan Sime, an Austal recruiter. “We’re getting a lot of resumes.”

The same was true at the State of Alabama Department of Corrections table. Sergeant LaNetta Banks passed out information to job seekers, who were impressed with the pay and benefits offered correctional officers. According to one sheet, a trainee correctional officer’s salary ranges from $28,516 to $43,339.

“There is a high demand,” said Banks. “We are hiring for the whole state.”

She added that she had seen several “good prospects” at the fair, and that there seemed to be a “good caliber” of potential employees at the fair.

Taylor Raymer of Robertsdale sat at a table filling out applications with his wife, Patricia by his side. Patricia is a stay-at-home mom to the couple’s two children.

“I am looking for anything right now,” said Taylor said, adding that his previous job was in construction, doing cabinet work.

“I’ve been laid off for three and a half months now,” said Taylor. “Everybody tells me they will call back, but they don’t. Hopefully, it will all work out.”

With 20 companies looking for employees and several service agencies offering help, it was a good opportunity for many job seekers.

Several colleges and at least one university also had representatives on hand to give information to those who thought some classes or a course of study might make them more competitive in the job market. There were also seminars on the process of finding a job, resume writing and interviewing.

The annual fair was held with the support of the Eastern Shore, North Baldwin, Central Baldwin, South Baldwin, and Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chambers of Commerce.

And if you missed this year’s job fair, there are job listings on the BCEDA Web site, baldwineda.com. Jobs listed range from a Web developer to a “retail sales consultant.”

In an earlier interview, Karen Glover, BCEDA operations manager. and Bob Higgins, BCEDA vice-president were excited about the opportunity the fair, which has been going on for several years in the county, brought to both employers and job hunters.

While the economy is not in good shape right now, the future for job growth in this area is good, the pair believes.

“We are in better shape than most,” said Higgins. “We have a good diversity in our economy. Tourism remains strong. We had 4.7 million visitors in 2007 and 4.5 million last year.”

And jobs in the area will be expanding, Higgins believes.

“A lot of us in workforce development,” said Higgins, “are confident that in five years, we will be 5,000 people short of what we need.”