Thousands turn out for Detroit job fair

Thousands of people waited for hours just to get inside Wayne County Community College Tuesday, where employers were ready to take names and resumes.

The job fair was part of a nationwide tour hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus. It’s meant to draw attention to unemployment among African Americans.

Detroit Congressman Hansen Clarke helped organize the event. He says the Caucus reached out to employers to connect people directly to jobs.

“It’s tragic, though, that so many people have turned out. Because it shows the need for employment is so great. But we’re gonna continue to work that way, matching up employers with people who are unemployed and who are capable of serving those employers.”

The Congressional Black Caucus says the unemployment level for African Americans is more than 16%. In Detroit, the figure ranges anywhere from 30-50%.

Clarke and fellow Detroit Congressman John Conyers also hosted a town hall meeting about jobs.