Jump Start Career Expo Offers Over 6,000 Job Openings in the South Texas Valley

Workforce, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, McAllen Economic Development, Lone Star National Bank, McAllen International Airport, and Hidalgo County hosted the Jump Start Career Expo, recognized as the largest job fair in the South Texas Valley.

A total of 150 companies gathered at Bert Ogden Arena to offer more than 6,000 job opportunities across different industries in the region. The event welcomed over 800 attendees, allowing them to apply to multiple employers in one location.

Approximately 50% of job seekers who attend these fairs secure a second interview, highlighting the success of these events in reducing McAllen’s unemployment rate through the support of participating businesses and sponsoring organizations.

"This is the largest job fair in the Rio Grande Valley, with over 150 employers offering more than 6,000 jobs. We want to continue making efforts to lower the unemployment rate," said Jorge Sánchez, Vice President of Economic Development at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.

Francisco Almaraz, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions, praised the support of companies that made this major event possible, as well as the contributions of the City of McAllen and, notably, Hidalgo County this year.

"What we do is bring together a large number of companies representing the various industries in the Rio Grande Valley. On one side, we have businesses looking for workers with specific skills, and on the other, we have job seekers with those skills. Here, we provide them the opportunity to speak directly," said Francisco Almaraz of Workforce Solutions.

In addition to facilitating job placements, one of the primary commitments of the event organizers and participating companies is to ensure that job seekers have access to the most competitive wages based on the type of employment they secure.