Job Seekers Flock to South LA Job Fair

Long lines of job seekers gathered in South Los Angeles Wednesday for the final job fair stop hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

Employers, ranging from supermarkets to entertainment companies, accepted resumes and applications all day at the Crenshaw Christian Center. Job seekers also attended town hall meetings, job readiness workshops and seminars as part of the CBC's Jobs Initiative.

CBC member Congresswoman Maxine Waters hosted the event. She was joined by at least 10 members of the CBC, including co-hosts Congresswomen Laura Richardson and Karen Bass to discuss jobs legislation and how to stimulate economic growth throughout the country.

"Today's goal is to connect real unemployed people will real jobs," Waters said.

Also in attendance was the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who said another goal of the event was to get the attention of President Obama.

"This is the base of people who had high hopes for him and that hope must be fulfilled, and in that way people come alive again. That's the key to 2012 and beyond," Jackson said.

The fair comes at a time when California's overall unemployment rate is on the rise. The rate increased to 12 percent in July 2011, according to the California Employment Development Department. The unemployment rate among African Americans in California for the same time period was at 20.3 percent.

Companies at the job fair were looking for all levels of employment, and many found qualified workers right there on the spot.

"After I came off stage, our booth was full of people with the qualifications to go to work for us immediately," said Keith Boles of G4S Secure Solutions.

Kristy Allen is one of the job seekers who walked away from the event with an offer.

"I feel like you have go be productive for yourself," Allen said. "It's just not going to come to you. You know you have to be out there to work and do the best you can do to succeed. So if you just sit back and wait for somebody to just pity you, then it's not going to work."