Job Fair for Ex-Cons Shut Down Because Too Many Show Up

Three times as many as expected in Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia shut down a career fair for ex-offenders today after an unexpected crowd of thousands showed up, résumés in hand.

There were lots of disppointed job seekers and potential employers this morning.

The city was expecting about 1,000 people to show up, but about three times that number were standing in a line that wrapped around the Municipal Services Building, across from City Hall.

And when someone jumped the line, order collapsed.

There was no yelling, no shoving — just 3,000 people all trying to get into the job fair at once.