HOLIDAY HELP HARD TO FIND; OAKS JOB FAIR DRAWS FEW TAKERS TO WORK IN STORES.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

A strong economy and low unemployment have made it difficult for The Oaks shopping center to fill hundreds of vacant jobs.

At a job fair at the mall Monday, representatives of California's Employment Development Department had just a few dozen people sign up to fill the 600 jobs that are available for the holiday season.

``It's not anything that's unexpected,'' said Dolores Brum, the department's employer services representative. ``Unemployment is down. The economy's a little better.''

Unemployment in Ventura County was down from a year ago, even as the size of the eligible work force expanded, according to the department.

In September, the latest month for which figures are available, the jobless rate was 7.6 percent. That compares with the 1996 September rate of 8.2 percent.

Brum and her associates were seeking to fill the jobs on behalf of 60 different retailers at the mall.

``The majority of the stores in the mall are recruiting through us, and most of them are hiring,'' she said.

Robinsons-May alone hopes to hire up to 150 people, Brum said. J.C. Penney and Eddie Bauer each needs 40 or 50 employees, she said.

Most of the jobs are seasonal, but some are permanent and could continue past the holidays, Brum said. Jobs range from managerial spots to stock and sales positions, she said.

A stop by the job fair table will save job seekers a stop at every store in the mall. Recruiters have applications and screen prospective employees before directing them to the appropriate store, Brum said.

``What we try to do is make a good match for the employer,'' she said. ``Some people have a preference for a certain type of store. If they're happier, they're going to be a better employee.''

Because stores are trying to attract much-needed workers, stores in general seem to be offering higher wages than past years, Brum said. But salaries depend on the type of job and how much experience the person has.

Job seekers can make themselves more attractive by being prepared to work flexible hours, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas, Brum said. If the service finds a suitable match, the candidate will be sent directly to the store.

``They need to come dressed for an interview,'' she said.

Travis Finley of Newbury Park and Kris Helms of Moorpark both sought jobs through the service Monday. Finley sought a stock position and got four referrals.

Helms had no preference for a job, other than a prohibition on working in food service.

``I just came to see what was open,'' Helms said.

Today is the referral service's last day. Workers will be set up to scout employees from noon to 6 p.m. on the ground floor near the Robinsons-May men's area.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--color) Jennifer Huber, left, of Newbury Park asks Dolores Brum of the Employment Development Department about jobs Monday at The Oaks.

(2--color--ran in Conejo edition only) Daneille Rippe fills out an application for a job at Robinsons-May.

Tina Gerson/Daily News