Hundreds of Jobs Available at London Job Fair Amid High Unemployment

With resumes in hand and hope in their hearts, job seekers will head to a citywide job fair Tuesday looking for opportunities as London remains mired in a 9.1 per cent unemployment rate, the highest in the country.

Devan Dwyer of the London Ice Cream Co. is looking to hire about 15 workers as production ramps up in London. Photo taken on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

Job Fair Details and Opportunities

The London and Area Works Job Fair on Tuesday at White Oaks Mall will feature more than 900 jobs, with more than 30 businesses looking to hire. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will offer everything from summer positions for students to full-time career opportunities.

"There's something for everyone," said Christine Wilton, director of workforce development for the London Economic Development Corp., which is organizing the fair. "This job fair creates a space where people can meet employers and tap into services. Talent exists, opportunities exist and services exist, but they're not always aligned. This event is designed to bring those pieces together."

Employer Participation and Job Seeker Interest

About 1,600 job seekers have registered for the event, according to organizers. The fair will feature positions across multiple sectors including manufacturing, health care, finance and engineering.

"We think we will find some good people there, people who are the right fit and are eager to find work," said Jacob Nunns, a human resources official with Jones Healthcare Group, which provides packaging for health-care products.

Local Job Market Context

The Workforce Planning and Development Board for Elgin Middlesex and Oxford lists about 3,500 job openings on its local job board in the London census metropolitan area, said Petrusia Hontar, the board's director.

"We absolutely have jobs posted and there is opportunity out there. We're hoping that people can align with them," she said.

Addressing the Unemployment Paradox

As for how an area with high unemployment can also have many unfilled jobs, Hontar explained that it often comes down to job seekers not looking in the right places or "their skills don't match."

She sees strong demand in retail and food services, as well as for transport truck drivers.

Specific Employer Needs

At London Ice Cream Co., about 15 positions are available, ranging from manufacturing to warehouse and office work, as well as staffing the scoop counter, said Devan Dwyer, operations manager for the White Oak Road business.

"For seasonal manufacturing, this is our Super Bowl. You get some students and you get some who are top tier, looking for full-time work, so this is perfect," Dwyer said.

At Jones Healthcare Group, Nunns said the company is looking to fill about eight positions, including full-time roles and summer student jobs, mostly in packaging production.

Additional Resources for Job Seekers

For those who do not find work at the job fair, Hontar suggests visiting the London Region Employment Services website at workforcedevelopment.ca to register and search for jobs.

"There are supports out there – people have to connect to them," said Hontar.

The job fair will draw people of different ages and experience levels, which is beneficial for employers looking to fill diverse roles across their organizations.