Job Fair in Jupiter Draws Crowd Well Beyond Displaced Amazon Workers — Unemployment Sits at 4.8% in Palm Beach County

A job fair held in Jupiter on Wednesday drew a larger and more diverse crowd than organizers initially anticipated — a snapshot of the broader job market across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

The event was organized by CareerSource Palm Beach County and was originally designed to assist workers displaced by the conversion of an Amazon warehouse in St. Lucie County to a fulfillment center. But within the first hour, many of the people in attendance had no connection to Amazon at all. They were simply job seekers looking for their next opportunity.

Eli Byrd, who recently graduated from Palm Beach State College, was among them. He has been searching for work since graduation.

"I went to interviews, and it was a great interview, but no hiring," Byrd said.

Sophia Warlick was there looking for a position as a therapist for children. "I found some good leads, but it depends once you get in there," she said.

The turnout reflects a local labor market that remains under pressure.

Unemployment in Palm Beach County is currently running around 4.8%, with the Treasure Coast — which includes St. Lucie and Martin counties — sitting higher at 5.3%.