Listen to this articleOn Thursday the Transgender Education Advocates (TEA) of Utah hosted their second annual LGBT Job Fair at the Salt Lake County complex. The event was attended by 10 local employers, all committed to LGBT equality in the workplace, and about 50 job-seekers, significantly surpassing last year’s inaugural numbers.
TEA of Utah Executive Director Connie Anast-Inman explained that the primary goal of the job fair is to show employers that “the LGBT community has an immense amount of untapped talent,” and to help that talent find jobs with companies who appreciate them and value diversity.
Anast-Inman added, “employment is crucial to a person’s well-being and sense of self-worth.” Current statistics demonstrate that the LGBT community suffers from much higher rates of unemployment than the national average. The trans* community, she noted, suffers at even more disproportionate levels.
The event was such a success that many of the participating employers have asked that it be expanded to happen twice per year. TEA of Utah is currently evaluating that request to see if another event can be set up for this fall.
