Airport Jobs Center Shatters First-Year Hiring Goals

126 applicants get aviation-related jobs in first six months of pilot project

(Seattle)--The Port of Seattle's Airport Jobs Employment Information Center is matching job seekers and employers at a pace never dreamed of when the year-long pilot program got under way. Airport Jobs is operated by the Office of Port JOBS, and is funded by the Port as a one-year pilot project.

In its first six months of operation the Center helped 126 people find aviation-related jobs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. That nearly doubles the Center's entire first-year goal of 65 placements.

"We knew this would be a valuable program, and well worth doing," said Port of Seattle Commissioner Paige Miller, who also serves as President of the Office of Port JOBS Board of Directors. "But I don't think anyone could have predicted this level of success."

Airport Jobs is one-stop shopping for both job seekers and employers. Any aviation-related employer near Sea-Tac can post job opportunities at the Center. Potential employees can find the jobs listed in one place, and get help in applying.

"We're not merely a bulletin board with a stack of job notices tacked up," said Teresa Peterson, Program Manager of Airport Jobs. "We have resources to help applicants prepare resumes, improve interview skills, and get the job that matches their qualifications."

Both the Washington State Employment Security Department and the King County Jobs Initiative have co-located staff at the Center's airport office. The Center is also drawing rave reviews from its other clients: employers.

"As a member of the Advisory Board for Airport Jobs, it has been very rewarding to see it go from the planning stage to where we can really reap the benefits," said Kathy Whearty, Senior Recruitment Specialist for Federal Express. "In the month of July we hired eight employees through Airport Jobs, and with the assistance the staff in the office provides, all of their candidates have been prepared to provide the employment details they need for our applications and 10-year background forms."

Not only is the Airport Jobs Center on pace to quadruple its first-year placement goals, it has exceeded expectations in several other ways:

The first year goal was 1000 visitors to the Airport Jobs office. By June 30, nearly 3400 potential applicants had stopped in.
Airport Jobs also has a web site, and the annual goal was 15,000 hits. By June 30, more than 375,000 web users had viewed the site.
The number of participating employers is a third higher than expected.
The average wage is $.26/hour higher than predicted.

Just as importantly, Airport Jobs is serving its target clients. The Center was intended to help community residents find living wage jobs at Sea-Tac. The goal is to make sure that the economic benefits of the airport reach all groups.

44 percent of those placed are from south King County. 26 percent are from Seattle. Ten percent are from Pierce County.

Half of those placed were unemployed when they first visited the Center. And fully a quarter of those placed were clients of welfare-to-work programs, food stamp recipients, or enrollees in other employment training programs.

"This is the right program, at the right time, for the right people," said Susan Crane, Executive Director of the Office of Port JOBS. "We couldn't be more pleased at how this is turning out."

The effort to match job seekers with aviation employers will continue. The next Airport Jobs Center Job Fair is scheduled to occur in late September or early October, with the goal of bringing new employees on-line in time for the holiday travel season.