SAN ANTONIO – A job fair Friday for the new Target store in Terrell Heights got Rachel Keely's attention.
"I'm really in desperate need of a job," she said.
Laid off three weeks ago at her job as administrative assistant for a government contractor, Keely's pounding the pavement and sending out resumes.
So far, she's wondering where the jobs are.
One look at the July help wanted ads points to health care when there was an infusion of postings by the area's growing hospital systems.
"The number one help wanted ad (last month) was for a registered nurse," said Eva Esquivel with Workforce Solutions Alamo.
While the need has been great and long-term for nurses, the health industry as a whole is hot when it comes to employment.
On the job search website, www.WorkInTexas.com, there were 500 job postings Friday for the health sector. Jobs ranged from a $165,000 a year psychiatrist to an $8 an hour medical records clerk. In between, there were plenty of openings for pharmacy techs, mammographers and physical therapists.
In the area of finance, there were 414 job openings listed on the website.
The San Antonio-New Braunfels area has seen stronger job growth than much of the country, netting about 2,000 new jobs each month since January. In the past year, the region has added 10,500 jobs to payrolls.
The biggest boom in that time can be attributed to Eagle Ford Shale.
"The number one growing industry right now is oil and gas, not a shock. After that, it's construction," Esquivel said.
Where there's construction, jobs tend to follow, particularly in retail, which was the second largest job-lister in July.
Exactly why that Target job caught Keely's eye. She's now interested in pursuing sales.
"Hopefully, I'll find a job pretty soon," she said.