Santa Clara County hosted its first Transgender Job Fair on Saturday to expand county job opportunities for transgender residents.
The county organized the job fair to mitigate a high risk of unemployment and poverty for transgender individuals due to hiring bias and discrimination.
Studies show an unemployment rate nearly double the average, according to the county. Additionally, about 15% of transgender workers have a household income less than $10,000, compared to 4% of the general population.
Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Susan Ellenberg, LGBTQ Affairs Office Director Maribel Martinez and Sheriff Laurie Smith spoke at a news conference to kick off the event, which is being held during Pride Month.
"We shouldn't even need a specific trans and non-binary event, but this is a good way to start to really highlight the need," said Ellenberg. "Our hope is that we will become a model for the private sector in the valley."
The sheriff's office, Registrar of Voters, district attorney, public defender, San Jose Fire Department, public health, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, parks and recreation, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and hospitals are among the organizations who took resumes and offering job advice.
The fair was held noon outside the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center at 938 The Alameda in San Jose.
