NC will participate in national online job fair for people with disabilities

The state of North Carolina will be part of a virtual career event for individuals with disabilities. It's part of an initiative to help clear obstacles and create an inclusive environment for all workers.

This is the state's third career fair for people with disabilities over the past few years. And the response is growing. State officials say they have had more than a thousand chats with candidates.

It's part of an initiative to attract individuals to careers in state government and to support an executive order signed by Governor Roy Cooper in 2019 known as Employment First For North Carolinians with Disabilities.

Recruiters from various state agencies and the university system will be on hand to talk about job opportunities and internships. Other organizations will be represented as well. Kristin Siemek is a talent acquisition manager with the state.

“We have at this point over a thousand vacancies that we are recruiting for," says Siemek. "And that's the other thing, people kind of think of state government and it's only in Raleigh, or it's only in big cities, but we have locations all across the state, I mean we have jobs at the aquariums in Wilmington to different locations out in the mountains.”

Siemek says opportunities are available for every level of candidate from experienced professionals to college students with disabilities.

The virtual career fair will be held on Wednesday, April 13. It's a free event and participants will need to register. The state of North Carolina is among several other employers who will participate in the national career fair hosted by Bender Consulting Services.