Zeal Technical Institute, at 4940 Bayline Drive in North Fort Myers, is inviting those in the community looking for a job in the medical field to come to its healthcare job and career fair Thursday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Representatives from Lee Health and other healthcare companies will be there seeking much needed workers in the areas of phlebotomy, medical assistants, home health aides, patient care technicians, and certified nursing assistants, among other areas.

Sylvia Dorisme, founder of ZTI, said they hold job fairs twice per year, in the spring and in the fall, and get together with employers and help solve the employment crisis, which is particularly acute in the healthcare field.

“Healthcare facilities are having trouble filling the positions available. Lee Health has over 1,800 positions available right now, so they’re working with schools like us and others in the area to help meet their needs,” Dorisme said.

Zeal will also be there to answer questions about how anyone can get started in the medical field. Dorisme said there are numerous scholarships available that are sitting there, waiting for someone to claim it.

Dorisme said the fair is intended for students attending Zeal, where you can get an entry-level position that pays $16 to $18 an hour in as little as four weeks.

It is also intended to bring people in who need training in the field with the hopes that career programs will join in and offer grants to prospective medical workers.

“We have 45 students registered for this job fair. Once we have all the other companies join in, we want to provide that opportunity to the public,” Dorisme said. “We’re also trying to get CareerSource and Future Makers, those two are working with the local schools to help solve the work force crisis.”

Dorisme said these jobs are entry-level positions. However, medical companies have been at the forefront of paying more to their employees, understanding that the cost of some things, like housing, have gone through the roof.

“People are concerned if they’re going to make a living wage to take care of their families. I believe Lee Health and others have acknowledged the situation and have done a lot with sign-on bonuses and raised salaries for entry-level positions,” Dorisme said. “CNAs used to make $12 an hour. Now, they’re making up to $17 an hour.”

Dorisme also said entry-level workers can climb the ladder and advance with more training and education.

“They can start as a CNA or phlebotomist, but if they want to became a nurse or a doctor, they can,” Dorisme said. “There is improvement on the salary front, and it’s only going to get better.”

The event is open to the public. For more information, go to zealtechnicalinstitute.com or call 214-0717.