Reflecting on our Roslindale Neighborhood Career Fair
On a cold windy night in December, the Office of Diversity hosted it’s sixth Career Fair in Boston’s distinct neighborhood of Roslindale.
Women are on the rise in Rozzie, with their participation in the labor force growing from 61 percent in 2000, to 74 percent in 2015. Hispanic/Latinx are the second largest ethnic group, representing 23 percent of Roslindale’s population. More than a quarter of residents are foreign born, with 41 percent of Roslindale’s residents speaking a language other than English at home.
More than 30 different organizations came to meet and identify diverse candidates to bring on board. Those in attendance included:
- community-based organization Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)
- City of Boston Departments
- Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), and
- Boston’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Large and small private-industry firms included Encore, Hollister Staffing, TD Garden, and The Boston Beer Company, to name a few.
This fair drew more than 200 attendees, with 52 percent being women. Individuals representing more than 16 different ethnicities were present, with the racial breakdown being:
- 40 percent Black
- 30 percent White, and
- 14 percent Hispanic/Latinx.
Eighty-one percent of attendees responded as having received useful information for their career advancement, and 75 percent reported having made meaningful connections with people who can help advance their professional career. Employers also had very positive feedback, with a 90 percent rating for their overall experience at the event of very good to excellent.
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated. We look forward to our next fair and connecting individuals with employment in 2019!
