Thousands turn out for job fair at Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND - Around 4,000 job hopefuls packed Cleveland State University's student center Monday for a job fair featuring around 100 prospective employers with about 2,500 spots to fill.

The job fair was put together by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) in an effort to put people who are ready to work in contact with local businesses that are ready to hire.

The strong turnout reflective of the state's unemployment numbers that jumped in June to 8.8 percent after nearly two years of monthly decline. The number of unemployed among those in the African American community at 16.2 percent.

The job fair was followed by a town hall meeting hosted by Fudge and members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the main classroom building auditorium next to the student center.

The Cleveland gathering is one of several sponsored by the caucus taking place across the country.