You don't need an economist to explain what's happening in the local job market, said Beth Busch, director of yesterday's WorkForce 2009 job fair at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

"Just come to the fair — you'll know," said Busch, who said yesterday's 6,500 attendance was the largest of any regular job fair event she's directed in the past 13 years. "Put your finger in the air. You'll know."

Busch said job fairs are a great economic barometer.

"For the last couple of years, unemployment has been at 3 percent or under. So we've had huge turnout of employers and good crowds of job seekers — but not like the crowd we're seeing today," she said.

With unemployment topping 7 percent in Hawai'i — twice that of a year ago — Busch said the number of employers at the fair was down noticeably from the record 240 employers at the fair in May 2008. Still, yesterday's employer count of 125 ranked WorkForce 2009 as one of the largest events of its kind in the nation, Busch said.

"I search all the job fairs on the Mainland and what they're getting, and if they have one with 30 employers it will make CNN. They think that's a lot," she said.

Yesterday's job fair was the latest among several in recent months that have drawn thousands of people, and a further sign that the jobless situation here shows no sign of easing yet. The most recent Hawai'i economic forecasts indicate that there will be minor job growth next year on O'ahu and Kaua'i but that unemployment rates will remain high for some time.

One of the busiest spots at the fair was the Federal Detention Center booth, which was taking applications for corrections officers. Throughout the day, a continual congregation of job seekers lined up to sign the forms.

Jonathan Walser, drug treatment specialist for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, assisted the process. He said the turnout was extraordinary, but he added that he wasn't that surprised.

"Times are tough," Walser said. "And we don't have the hiring freeze that a lot of agencies do. We do have some job security as far as being a federal law enforcement officer. And we have good benefits. I've been doing these for several years, and we're busier today than we usually are."

CENSUS SWAMPED

Things also were hectic at the U.S. Census Bureau booth, where hundreds signed up for a chance at one of six managerial positions soon to be available at the state's second Census Bureau office in Hawai'i. The office will be in Wai'anae — where Native Hawaiians lead the nation among under-counted ethnic groups.

"This particular Census Bureau recruitment is being geared for people who live in the service area," said Wanda Hanson, bureau partnership specialist and regional technician. "We're hoping to get people from Wai'anae because they will be familiar with the area."

The swarm of job seekers at the fair crossed all age and gender lines. Many, such as Marty Martinez, 39, belong to the nearly 46,000 residents who make up the state's highest unemployment rate in more than three decades.

Martinez said it might be a good idea for him to speak with one of the free career counselors at the event who were on hand for folks who haven't sought employment in years.

RESUME ADVICE

Micheal Jameson of Honolulu had already found the Society of Human Resource Management booth. Human resource professional Bobbie Keli'ikoa carefully went over Jameson's resume, offering advice.

"It's been roughly nine years since I applied for a job," said Jameson, 36, an unemployed former events coordinator for a Mainland company. "In nine years, the job climate has changed. It used to be that people were willing to flip through your resume. Now, it's different."

Keli'ikoa told Jameson his resume overemphasized his duties as an events coordinator rather than touting his skills and flexibility.

"She said to make sure my objective is focused and clear on the position the employer is trying to fill," he said after his advice session. "I have a lot of work to do when I get home as far as my resume is concerned."

Debbie Revilla, SHRM counselor and senior human resources manager with Hilton Grand Vacations, said job applicants need to hone their communication skills.

"What we're finding today is that people are pretty nervous about interviewing for a job," Revilla said. "Interview has taken on a whole new look. Before, we'd ask applicants one-word response questions. Today, more of the interviews are what we call behavior-based interviewing."

That type of interview requires exceptional communication skills, something some Island applicants don't find comfortable. Revilla said she and the other counselors offer ways for them to relax and simply "talk story" with potential employers.

The idea is for the applicant to let the employer understand that she or he is right for the job being offered.

"Usually in a conversation you're going to hear a little bit more than you asked for, and you're going to get a little bit of an idea of what their character is about, how their mind thinks, and whether or not they can strategize."

Revilla said good eye contact, clear sentences and a neat appearance are ways to make an immediate positive impression with employers.