MADAWASKA, Maine – The St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its first ever career expo and job fair on Saturday, Nov. 2, which will feature a variety of employers from northern and central Aroostook County.
The idea came about shortly after local news outlet WAGM hosted a job fair in central Aroostook County. The St. John Valley Chamber board decided to hold a similar job fair that emphasizes the businesses in the northern part of Aroostook County, according to Jessica Blalock, the chamber’s executive director.
“WAGM was more Presque Isle focused, and we wanted the focus to be on the Valley,” Blalock said.
She said board president Elaine Clavette came up with the idea to host a job fair and career expo in Madawaska, and the rest of the board agreed.
The fair comes at a point when unemployment throughout the St. John Valley has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Maine labor statistics. Between 2021 and 2023 Madawaska’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.9 percent to 3 percent, Van Buren’s unemployment rate dropped from 8 percent to 5.5 percent, and Fort Kent dropped from 6.8 percent to 4.2 percent.
Aroostook County’s unemployment rate also dropped from 5.8 percent in 2021 to 3.9 percent in 2023. Compared to other counties in Maine, Aroostook had the fourth highest unemployment rate in 2023, with Somerset County having the highest rate at 4.2 percent and Sagadahoc County having the lowest rate at 2.3 percent.
About a dozen businesses from both northern and central Aroostook County have signed up so far. St. John Valley businesses include Fish River Rural Health, Red Cross, Hannaford, Northern Maine Medical Center, and Country Village Estates. Businesses from central Aroostook include Cary Medical Center and the Northern Maine Development Commission, both based in Caribou.
The career expo is not geared toward a particular demographic, such as students, as a large variety of fields will be represented.
“It’s open to anyone,” Blalock said. “We have Hannaford where you can stock shelves, or Northern Maine Medical Center where you can be a doctor. So we will hopefully have something for everyone.”
Blalock said some residents have reached out already about job opportunities in towns, and that they now plan to attend the career expo.
The chamber is still accepting applications from businesses. Any business that is a member can attend the job fair for free. The fee for non-members is $100.
Businesses can sign up to participate by calling the St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce at (207) 728-7000.
The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Madawaska High School on 135 7th Avenue on Nov. 2.
