In my 10 years of being an executive director of a chamber of commerce, I’ve never seen a labor market like the one we have right now. You cannot find an industry that is free of the effects of the employment need.

Manufacturing, retail, service, nonprofits, health care and sales careers are blooming and ready to be plucked up, but instead many are dying on the vine. There isn’t a commercial street in the Midcoast region that you can drive down without seeing a hiring sign, and often it’s multiple signs and multiple positions. If someone wants a new career, the time to jump is now, and for those looking to start a career then now is a great time to come to the Midcoast.

There is a noticeable population shift happening in Maine as southern Maine and coastal Maine continues to expand, and attract more re-locators. Job opportunities are a big part of that. The story isn’t the same everywhere in the state, and more and more we are finding people willing to commute to the Midcoast, or eventually move.

As a chamber of commerce, our role is to create opportunities for businesses, and in terms of workforce that can mean creating opportunities for employers and employees to find one another. That’s why the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber is proud to be partnering with the Southern Midcoast Career Center to bring our first Fall Hiring & Sub Fair to Brunswick on Oct. 12, sponsored by Mid Coast-Parkview Health.

The event will run very similar to our spring event and will again be held at the Cook’s Corner Mall in Brunswick, in their indoor showcase area. The event will again run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will have dozens of business on hand looking to meet possible new employees and in some cases interviewing on the spot.

In the spring we had 61 booths and more than 340 attendees, and we’re hoping for a similar turnout this time. In just the first eight days of registration being open, we are up to 23 businesses who have requested registration forms.

Now even though many things are the same, there are a few key differences with our fall event. One major change is that it will also be a substitute teacher recruitment event. Several local schools will have representatives on hand to meet perspective substitute teachers. There is a dire need in the schools right now as the substitute teacher pool is very shallow.

What a great way for someone who is recently retired to get a few days of work per month, and to work when they want to work. How about someone looking for just a few extra hours of work per week? Substitute teaching can be a great way to supplement your income, and again it has the flexibility many people need.

Naturally, the Department of Education has certain requirements for their teachers, so there are a few more screening procedures to be done, but for those with a clean criminal background and a degree, this can be a wonderful supplemental opportunity.

Another change will be the layout. In the spring we sectioned off half of the showcase space with walls of curtain to separate the employer booths from the businesses in the Cook’s Corner Mall. We received feedback that some potential employees were intimidated by this layout and unwilling to enter the display area with fear of being overwhelmed.

The layout this time will be much more of an open concept, with what can be described as “horseshoes against the wall.” Thus 7-10 businesses will be in each horseshoe with potential employees able to survey who is displaying in which horseshoe. Then they can approach the businesses they are interested in. We hope this new layout alleviates some concerns and makes the event even more engaging.

If you are an employer looking for a booth space we have held the price at $80 for the early bird registrations and $95 for regular registration. Please note the early bird registration closes this week, so get in touch with our chamber office at (207) 725-8797 today, or email executivedirector@midcoastmaine.com. If I receive your request by Monday morning, Oct. 2 at 9 a.m., I will honor the early bird pricing.

A couple of other items to note:

• All booths must be set up and ready for 10 a.m. The earliest you can begin setup is 8:30 a.m. the morning of Oct. 12.

• Every booth comes with a booth space, one skirted linen covered table, two chairs, access to our free water/coffee station and a light lunch.

• Some electricity is available, but the schools need some for substitute teacher screening registrations, so it is limited. Let us know early if it is absolutely necessary. A charging station will be available in the vendor only area.

• There will be a few interview stations set up away from your booths if you want to interview any candidates on the spot.

• There is a strict no solicitation policy for this event, therefore if anyone is there attempting to sell you anything, you can ask us and we will encourage them to leave. This four-hour fair is for you to meet potential employees, and anyone who takes your time and focus away from that will be asked to leave.

Job seekers, you should come prepared to meet dozens of potential employers and have a resume or a contact card ready to give to them. A resume of your work history and a few references is best, but if you have a limited work history, or none at all, then just having a contact card with your name and an email address or phone number on it is very helpful. The Southern Midcoast Career Center can help you create either of those (their number is 888-836-3355).

If you are an employer or job seeker with other questions, please contact the chamber at 725- 8797. We hope to see you there.