This is a job-seekers market.

So said Belinda Petate-Chan, employment training supervisor of San Joaquin County Worknet at Friday’s Job Fair held at the Manteca Education & Training Center.

Featured were 25 vendors, ranging from entry-level warehouse jobs to clerical and retail opportunities.

Petate-Chan was thrilled with the strong turnout that morning. She’s based in the new Stockton comprehensive center located at 6221 West Lane, Studio 105 – besides the Manteca Education & Training Center / Manteca Adult School, Worknet also has locations in Tracy, Delta College and Lodi.

Needed are people in the work force.

“They’re hiring those without (previous) experience,” Petate-Chan said.

Gary DeVany of Renewable Technologies Inc. was among those looking for a few good workers to help out with his solar energy company. He’s the executive vice president of the company that’s been harvesting the sun with renewable energy since 1994.

“We’re looking for people we can train,” DeVany said.

Cassandra Arrowsmith, who works human resources for the Goodwill Industries of San Joaquin Valley, Inc., added that Goodwill has plenty of job offerings. Included are retail, warehouse and management.

“We have a career path for entry-level positions,” she said.

The job fair was organized by Miranda Silveira and Heather Ordaz of the Manteca Education & Training Center.

Working together with Worknet for the past month, they were able to bring in the likes of Alpine Meats, Amazon, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Center Point, Comprehensive Spine & Sports Center, Covenant Care, Alegre Trucking, Leprino Foods, Swiss American Sausage Company, and Wayfair, to name a few.

During the first hour of the job fair, Silveira estimated about 100 job-seekers were in attendance.

Principal Brad Harrison of the Manteca Adult School pointed out that this was a return to the job fair after the hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a nice (outdoor) set up,” he said of the event held in the quad area of the Manteca Unified office complex.