Hundreds Turn Out For Local Hiring Events

Call it yet another sign of the tough economy we've become accustomed to throughout the last few years-- as hundreds of people showed up Wednesday to in Banning.

Banning, which currently has an unemployment rate of 13.5 percent according to state data, isn't too much worse off than Beaumont-- which has an unemployment rate of 13.4 percent.  Nearby Cabazon has the highest unemployment rate in the county, at 29 percent, according to the latest state figures available.

The first organization hosting a job fair was - which saw nearly 500 applicants walk through the doors, according to hospital spokeswoman Molly Ellis.

Many of those people were able to interview on the spot.

“I would say that today’s recruitment fair was a terrific success," Ellis told Banning-Beaumont Patch.  "We had hundreds of qualified applicants turn in their resumes, and we look forward to reviewing them closely. We are excited to add to our team here at SGMH and continue providing our community with excellent care.”

Over at the in Beaumont, the Dollar General hosted an event to fill positions for a new Banning location, which is slated for opening on June 25, according to the company.

The resort told Patch that approximately 80 people showed up for day one of that hiring event.  Day two was happening Thursday, and the store was looking for people to hire for their new Moreno Valley location.