A Career Fair will be held Wednesday, March 11, at the American Legion Post 122 Hall, located at 28855 Legion Trail off Highway W just outside of Warrenton. As of Tuesday morning, 22 businesses were scheduled to appear at next week's event, said Kia Phillips of the Missouri Career Center. Some of the employers include Warrenton Oil, Advanced Beauty College, Emmaus Homes, NECAC and Kaspar Broadcasting Company. The event is free. Phillips recommends job seekers bring plenty of resumes and dress professionally. "First impressions are everything," she said. Next week's job fair comes at a good time for those out of work. In figures compiled by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the state's unemployment rate reached 8 percent for January, an increase from 7.3 percent from the previous month. In December, Warren County's jobless rate hit 9.3 percent, its highest mark in 2008. The county's unemployment rate in November was 8 percent. "Maybe this can be a start," Phillips said. "There are some people losing their homes after they lose their jobs. Maybe this can provide some type of hope for them." Booth space is also available for interested businesses that are looking to add to their workforce. The cost is $30. Phillips also is organizing an employer information seminar to be held Monday, March 9, from 8:30-11 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Warrenton. The featured speaker will be William A. Benzel, of the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Services. He will cover the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act which help soldiers when they come back from war. Other topics that will be covered are the federal bonding program and the work opportunity tax credit. Admission is $15 per person ($25 for two attendees from the same organization) and includes a hot breakfast. For more information, contact Phillips at 636-456-9467.