CHICAGO, Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (Nasdaq:IPDN) announced it will host a Professional & Technology Diversity Career Fair in Philadelphia, PA for diverse professionals including women, veterans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT community.   The free event will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport, 9000 Bartram Avenue Philadelphia, PA, 19153.

Sponsored by The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP,) the event offers diverse candidates a unique opportunity to connect with employers proactively seeking to fill positions.  Registered attendees can meet face-to-face with recruiters and HR managers representing a range of industries such as IT, healthcare, education and retail.

Participating companies include Apex Systems, CBS Corporation, Quest Diagnostics, The Chester Community Charter School, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, NextEra, Tiffany & Co., Princeton University and WaWa, Inc., among others.  In addition to the NAACP, the National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) and the National Black MBA Association are also sponsors.

"Our goal is to help diverse jobseekers – especially mid to senior level professionals – overcome the challenges of access and visibility," said Mike Hall, executive vice president of Professional Diversity Network.  "Unlike traditional job fairs, this event gives candidates an opportunity to meet recruiters, share their "elevator pitch" and compete for a specific job opportunity.  We hope every diverse job seeking professional in Philadelphia will join us to make quality connections with corporate leaders who value diversity."

According to the latest data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Philadelphia has an unemployment rate of 7.8%, which is above the national average of 6.1%. Local unemployment and underemployment levels among diverse Americans are significantly higher, regardless of educational attainment. 

About Professional Diversity Network

Professional Diversity Network (PDN) develops and operates online networks dedicated to serving diverse professionals in the U.S., including women, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, veterans, disabled persons and LGBT, by providing them with access to employment opportunities.  PDN owns and operates professional networking communities including: iHispano, BlackCareerNetwork, WomensCareerChannel.com, Military2Career, ProAble.net, OutProNet, and AsianCareerNetwork. For more info, visit prodivnet.com.

SOURCE Professional Diversity Network, Inc.