SEASIDE – With Clatsop County’s jobless rate hovering in the 10-percent range, it’s no wonder that the Job and Career Fair in Seaside was the most popular event on the North Coast Wednesday.

Potential employers from organizations ranging from Costco to Columbia Memorial Hospital talked to hundreds of people who had been laid off recently or wanted to switch jobs. High school students seeking summer work as lifeguards or grocery clerks also picked up applications.

Although 58 potential employers showed up at the job fair, the number was less than last year’s 63 vendors, said Linda Wyss, business and employment specialist for the Oregon Department of Employment, which co-sponsored the fair.

“There might be some people who aren’t hiring for the summer this year or aren’t hiring at all,” she said.

Jerome Ustby, of Astoria, who was laid off from Weyerhaeuser last month after working as a planer for 13 years, stopped by the Warrenton Police Department’s table. He talked awhile to officer Aaron Berndt, then picked up a brochure.

Ustby, 57, said he wasn’t sure what career he would go into now. He might study for a Certified Nursing Assistant’s certificate or go into radiology.

“It’s a complete change for me, but it’s what I’d like to do now,” Ustby said.

But, he added, he’s keeping his options open, and that’s why he came to the job fair.

“I wanted to see what’s available, whether there’s anything for me. I’m not going to stick to one plan. I want to see what else is out there.”

Warrenton police Chief Mathew J. Workman said high school students had stopped by to find out what it takes to go into law enforcement. Adults who wanted second careers also were interested. Some wanted to know if previous offenses would prevent them from being police officers.

The job fair is “great,” he said, “not only to talk to people looking for careers, but for finding volunteers, reserve officers and high school students who might want to start a cadet program.”

Although Workman didn’t have any immediate openings, he may be able to hire an officer if a ballot measure succeeds in the May 19 election, and if he receives the federal funds he has applied for, he may be able to hire another officer.

Still one more officer may be in the city’s future. “If the economy improves we can expect more development in Warrenton. We’re already at capacity for the number of officers in our department for the population.”

Even with a poor economy, John Chapman, partner and general sales manager for Calcomm Stations Oregon, is always looking for a good account executive. Companies still want to advertise, Chapman said, and the radio station wants to provide that service.

But it’s difficult to find the right person on the North Coast, Chapman said.

“We have struggled to find someone full time,” he said. “It has been like that for a long time. It has got to be the right person who wants to join our family. Someone who’s motivated and eager to learn.”

While it would be nice to have experience, Chapman said the station would train someone who “is willing to move forward.”

Many people dropped by the table operated by Columbia Memorial Hospital. They wanted to know what jobs were open, how they could get into the medical field without medical training and how they might apply for jobs, said Cheryl Martin, human resources manager.

There are “a few” jobs open, Martin said. But she admitted that some services have experienced decreased demand when laid off workers lose their health insurance.

But, she said, those who don’t have medical training can still find work at Columbia Memorial – as medical assistants, administrators, health information and computer technology.

“These are all areas vital for the function of a hospital,” Martin said.