Thousands of jobs were on offer yesterday (18 July) at a jobs fair funded by the Australian government and hosted at aluminium producer Hydro Aluminium’s smelting plant at Kurri Kurri, New South Wales.

The Kurri Kurri plant will be closing shortly due to low metal prices and high electricity costs, among other factors, and Hydro is working alongside the government to ensure the 300-plus workers due to lose their jobs find new opportunities – and some job offers were available to be made on the day.

According to Hydro’s vice president for HR & organisation, Trevor Hall, 70 companies with over 6,500 vacancies were exhibiting: “We have been specific in explaining to exhibitors that their vacancies must be real and current – we have employees looking for work now.”

The government puts these numbers slightly lower, at 50 companies with 4,000 jobs available, with employment participation minister Kate Ellis claiming the event is “a great example of the Australian government’s commitment to helping connect people to opportunities the broader economy has to offer to help them get back to work”.

Hall adds that the event “is helping to generate optimism and a positive image of the future for many people”.