The Business Council and its affiliate, the Chamber Alliance of New York State, have joined the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) in sponsoring a "virtual job fair" for all New York State employers. The job fair will continue through Dec. 7.

The goal is to help members of The Council and CANYS fine the skilled workers they need.

ESD's Web site, www. hightechNY.com, is a central part of the ongoing effort to help employers by promoting employers' listings of job openings for skilled workers. The site is part of a national advertising and marketing campaign designed to recruit students and recent graduates to come to, or remain in, New York.

Already, hundreds of thousands of users have visited the site to explore New York-based opportunities. ESD collaborated with the state Department of Labor in developing the site.

Job seekers will have access to the site beginning Sept. 17. They will also be able to create and post resumes for electronic submission to participating employers. Participating employers will have access to all resumes submitted.

The event is open to all members of The Business Council, local chambers, and regional employers groups. A fee of $100 will enable employers to list all of their company's job openings, remove listings for jobs once they are filled, and review resumes submitted in response to the employer's ads.

For an additional $250, employers can buy banner advertisements to appear on various pages that are part of the Web site. These ads caninclude a direct link back to the employer's own Web site.

For more information, contact Katherine Loucks, deputy commissioner for workforce development in ESD, at 518/292-5316.