Some 200 people hopeful of landing a job at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant showed up in the first half hour or so at the factory today where VW held its first-ever career fair.
"So far it's nice," said Mario Duarte, the plant's senior manager of organizational development and human resources, about the number of applicants. VW officials want to fill 1,100 new jobs opening up at the plant through mid-April.
Jerre Dill of Chattanooga said he turned out because he's seeking "a career job."
He said the number of new jobs opening up at the factory shows that VW is committed to Chattanooga despite the diesel emission scandal that has stricken the German automaker.
VW expects to have about 3,400 people working in Chattanooga by mid-April - a new high - as hiring cranks up for production of the automaker's midsize sport utility vehicle late this year.
VW staffing contractor Aerotek is making a major push to bring on new production employees at the career fair, which will continue Saturday at the plant.
New production employees will earn an average of $13.50 per hour. When employees are later hired by VW, they'll earn $15.50 per hour, according to VW.