THE employment market in Medway is booming and there's never been a better time to find a job. And with the launch of the first job fair at the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre on April 29, now is the time for people to find their first job or change careers.

In Medway, unemployment has fallen by more than 2,000 in the past year, with more and more people finding jobs in the area. The Jobs Fair at Hempstead Valley hopes to capitalise on the employment boom, and provide advice to jobseekers or those looking to change careers.

The fair, run in conjunction with Medway Today and the Medway Messenger, follows the success of last month's wedding exhibition at the shopping centre. Patrick Mulcahy, of the Medway Careers Centre, in New Road, Chatham, said the job fair couldn't have come at a better time. He said: "This is just the right time with the number of teenagers who will be leaving school at the end of June, once A-levels and GCSEs are out of the way."

Jay Choudary, of the Medway Chamber of Commerce, said the job fair would give people an ideal opportunity to see the options available to them. The director of Puretone said: "There are some great jobs on offer in Medway, but sometimes there is a lacking in qualifications. If people had the training and skills in electronics and computer programming then they would always be guaranteed work.

"An event like the job fair can only be a good thing, and should prove a success with jobseekers." The job fair runs between April 29 and May 4, during shopping centre hours. Some 50 exhibitors are due to attend, with 32 confirmed last week.