People looking for work in North Central Florida can apply for hundreds of positions online without leaving the sofa. A few clicks, and they can send their job histories to dozens of local corporations with jobs available.

In this era, the traditional job fair might seem like a relic. Yet across Florida, organizations are hosting events where businesses set up booths, hand out brochures and pens with their logos, and then throw open their doors to the job-seeking public. The businesses that participate are trying to provide something an online application cannot: a real conversation.

“Anytime you can get job seekers and potential employers together, there is value,” said Scott Maynard, senior vice president of economic development at the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. His organization recently partnered with the County to host a healthcare expo where 176 attendees met with more than 40 vendors. The chamber is making plans to host a manufacturing and technology expo next year. 

There are jobs available in North Central Florida. Economist Sean Snaith, director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting, said in a forecast released at the end of 2025 that Florida’s job growth is expected to average 0.6% annually from 2026 through 2029.

Many area colleges host job fairs in the spring to give graduating classes in specific fields the chance to meet the people they might want to work for, and to give businesses the first glance at new talent. Job expos are larger events that are often hosted off campus, with more companies participating. Branches of the U.S. military might have recruitment officers at these events, for those who feel their best option might be service to their country, and the colleges might have booths to offer continuing education as an option that expands job opportunities.

Another form of “job fair” that takes a slightly less formal track is the networking event.  Here, business leaders and representatives of specific fields can mingle and get to know local people who are interested in learning more about the places they might want to work someday. The Associated Builders and Contractors Central Florida chapter hosts “ABC On Tap” quarterly networking events at different clubs and restaurants throughout the region to give construction industry members the opportunity to mix with peers and to meet professionals who are looking for positions in that field. The event is open and free to all, including local businesses, to encourage participation.

Lake Ray is the president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association, a non-profit trade association based in Jacksonville that represents more than 1,500 manufacturing companies representing 30,000 jobs. Ray said that, while there is no way to track how many people find work  at job expo events, he feels they also provide a learning experience for jobseekers by giving them a chance to see what kinds of jobs are available.

“There is a benefit,” he said—even if people don’t walk away with a job offer in hand. “It gets people thinking about the different careers that might match their skills.”

Making contacts with prospective employees also benefits businesses. According to the Career Guide of Indeed, a leading global employment website and job-search engine, 34% of hiring managers maintain pools of applicants for future openings—and the people they meet at job fairs and networking events go onto those lists. So making a connection at a networking event or expo might lead to a successful hire somewhere down the line. Building applicant pools through personal contacts can also prove less expensive than creating and maintaining published job listings and can be a discreet way to explore new candidates’ availability without announcing a future job opening to the online world.

For the person looking for a new job, making a personal connection at an in-person connection can carry the weight of an employee referral.

Aliyah Meyer, business attraction specialist for St. Johns County Economic Development, says she found her perfect job through contacts she made at networking events. Her in-person conversations with local business owners helped her recognize economic development as the right career path.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that networking isn’t just about finding a job—it’s about building genuine relationships,” Meyer said. “You never know which conversation will open a door, introduce you to a mentor or help shape your future. For me, networking did all three.”