ESD Job Fair Tries To Fill 2,000 Tech Openings

NOVI -- More than 50 companies were trying to fill around 2,000 jobs Monday at the Engineering Society of Detroit's spring job fair.

The event, held at the Suburban Collection Showplace, is a microcosm of the tight job market for technical talent.

"We have 250 openings today for engineers that we could fill if we could find them," said Nicole Doyle, technical recruiter at Bartech Group, a staffing company.

Other well-known Michigan names at the job fair included Strategic Staffing Solutions, Ford Motor Co., DTE Energy, Guardian Industries, AAM Inc., Credit Union One and others.

ESD executive vice president Darlene Trudell said the shortage of engineering talent shows the need for the programs of the ESD and its institute, from programs encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics education at the earliest ages through the Future City competition for middle school students through programs for high school students.

While some struggle to find work, Trudell said, the average engineering grad draws more than three job offers and starts their career making more than $60,000 a year.

To listen to a podcast interview with Trudell about the labor shortage and the job fair, visit this link.