HOUSTON -- Job fairs planned for the Houston area took on even more importance as Texas' unemployment rate jumped from 7.9 percent to 8 percent last month. It's the highest state jobless rate in 22 years.

Single mom of two, Vanella Randolph said unfortunately, looking for employment as a medical assistant has been her full-time job lately.

Randolph told KPRC Local 2, "It's been kind of hard. It really has been hard. I've been looking and looking. I'm out every day, not having a break, not having any sleep."

She's one of nearly 1,000 people who come to the Workforce Solutions Northline office every day looking for leads in a tough economy.

Workforce Solutions Director of Operations Russell Tomlin said, "It's tough on people. We've seen 30 to 35 percent increase in our offices in terms of the traffic, of folks coming in needing services."

A Citywide public job fair, sponsored by the city of Houston and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee will be held on Saturday.

About 100 employers will be there looking to hire for 3,000 immediate openings.

Tomlin explained, "The jobs are fewer. They're a little harder. They're in nontraditional places. The economy is shifting and the work market is shifting, so helping an individual connect to those is what this is about because they are out there. There are people hiring."

In July, thousands flocked to a federal job fair in Houston with a few suffering heat exhaustion.

This time around, organizers are prepared to see perhaps 10,000 people turn out.

Tomlin said, "I expect a big showing. I expect it'll take some time, but I think at the end, we have the adequate resources allocated to it."

Cristina Zapata knows all too well that an 8 percent unemployment rate is more than just a statistic. it's her reality.

Zapata said, "Sometimes it's frustrating. You can't find anything. But on Wednesday I have an interview, so that gets my hopes up. Hopefully, it goes well."

If you plan to head out to a job fair, try to get there early to avoid lines, wear interview-appropriate attire and bring your resume and references.

On-site interviews will be given at the citywide job fair at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall C, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Parking arrangements have been made at three locations for job seekers who don't want to park downtown. Parking at any of the locations is at the drivers' own risk.

Buses will arrive at the locations at 9 a.m. and shortly after noon and take people to the convention center. The buses will return job seekers to their parking locations at noon and 4 p.m.

The parking locations include:

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
9318 Homestead Road
Acres Homes Multi-Service Center
6719 W. Montgomery Road
University of Houston
Lot D at corner of Elgin Street and Cullen Boulevard

According to Jackson Lee's office, some of the employers that will be at the job fair include:

Affiliated Computer Service
Aramark Regional Staffing
Art Institute of Houston
Catherines
City of Galveston
City of Houston - Police Department
City of Houston - Human Resources Department
City of Houston - Office of the Mayor
Comcast
Department of Veteran Affairs
Department of Highway and Safety
Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection
Department of Interior - U.S. Geological Survey
Department of Public Works and Engineering
Dish Network
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Everest Institute
EZ Pawn
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FedEx Ground
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Fort Bend Human Resources
Hilton Americas Houston Hotel
Interactive Response Technologies
Jobing.com
Lee College
MEMCO
Memorial Hermann
METRO
Parsons
Reliable Life Insurance
Rice University
Richmond State School
Social Security Administration
Stevens Transport
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas National Guard
Texas PRIDE
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Army
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Commerce - Census Bureau
U.S. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Wharton County Junior College
Workforce Solutions

Another job fair is scheduled for Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. hosted by the Green Mountain Energy Company. The company is looking for part-time retail and event sales agents.

It will be held at 2050 N. Loop West, Suite 201.