The Alabama State Employment Service had a busy day yesterday as nearly 70 applicants were interviewed for positions in the new Marvin’s Building Materials and Home Center being built on Highland Avenue.

Dr. Margaret Hardy, manager of the Employment Service, said the office screened 800 applicants for various positions before the interviews took place in order to find those best qualified to meet the needs of the company.

This large interest from people seeking employment is not an uncommon occurrence, Hardy said, especially considering how economically depressed the region is.

Brett Sams, Humane Resources Director at Marvin’s, said his company has about 25 to 30 positions that need to be filled.

However, Hardy fears that eventually she and the others who work at the Employment Service will be looking for jobs themselves.

A proposed bill is currently circulating through

senate committee meetings that will protect the state service from closing.

Budget cuts have already reduced Employment Service staff to only four people, who have are serving the needs of the unemployed in Dallas, Perry, and Wilcox counties.

For the past several years, the Employment Service has been a staple in providing full time, part time, casual domestic, and day labor jobs to area residents.

It also has a service that encourages employers to hire military veterans.

Applicants can use the resource room at the Employment Service to find job openings and see if they meet the criteria.

There are also Job Shop programs that teach applicants about what to expect when going for an interview.

The Employment Service is partners with Selma CareerLink in helping people find jobs.

If the Employment Service disappears from this market, Hardy believes, the effect could be more far-reaching than most people realize.