THE Director of Labour yesterday hailed the success of his department’s latest job fair, with major New Providence employers having identified dozens of potential hires.

Robert Farquharson told Tribune Business that roughly 1,100 persons attended the job fair at Golden Gates Park, and said: “The southwestern job fair was extremely successful. We were very pleased with the results.  We saw almost 1,100 persons attend the fair. We would have registered over 200 new applicants.”

Mr Farquharson added: “Atlantis would have pre-screened 332 persons, interviewed at least 150 on-site and already identified 77 of those persons for second interviews, with the view of hiring them in the food and beverage and house keeping departments.

“Fidelity Bank also interviewed a number of persons, and identified 14 vacancies they hope to fill from those interviews. IMAX interviewed over 200 applicants. They are looking to hire between 200-300 persons in food and beverage and catering. They indicated to us that they had identified over 100 persons and, once background checks are complete, they would look to hire those persons. Super Value was out there and they would have identified 24 persons to be hired as cashiers immediately. The Bahamian Delight Restaurant would have hired 12 persons on the spot.”

Mr Farquharson said there were other businesses pleased with the turnout and quality of applications. He added that the Labour Department was still looking into how many persons would have secured employment through the job fair, given the need for employers to carry-out their background checks first.