The fair, held in the Radisson Roe Park Hotel last Thursday, attracted 31 of Northern Ireland's biggest employers, including Stream International, Royal Mail, NI Civil Service, NI Fire Service and PSNI. Local jobseekers were able to view and apply for vacancies on offer.
The fair was opened by Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, who said it had been organised in direct response to the closure of Seagate Technology and other major employers in the area.
The Minister said: "There is no doubt that the Limavady area has experienced unprecedented difficulties with so many redundancies over a relatively short period of time. The closure of Seagate, with a loss of approximately 900 jobs, was a major blow to the local labour market.
"In addition to these, the closure of Huco Lightronic, the MOD base at Ballykelly and the 'knock-on' effect to local supplier services have had a serious impact on the town. Further job losses have followed with a down turn in the construction sector. However, my Department is doing all that it can to help jobseekers in Limavady and surrounding areas find alternative employment.
"My officials will continue to work closely with local bodies such as District Councils, Chambers of Commerce and employers in an effort to bring jobs to the local community."
Underlining his Department's commitment to helping those affected by recent job losses, the Minister said: "I am focused on ensuring that training, aimed at providing the skills required to compete for employment, is there for anyone who wishes to avail of it. Programmes like Steps to Work, Pathways and the new all-age apprenticeship provision, ApprenticeshipsNI, have been introduced to equip people with the necessary skills for employment."
Deputy Mayor and East Londonderry DUP MLA George Robinson commented: "The number of people who attended the fair is proof of what I have always said and known, the people of Limavady want to work, are prepared to work and are willing to do what it takes to get work. They will be an asset to any employer locating in this area.
"The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, has previously assured me that any training and reskilling required for a new employer will be put in place to ensure everyone can avail of the opportunities that any new employers would bring with them.
"However, as I have also stated previously, with the present global economic crisis, attracting new investment and employment has become doubly difficult."
He continued: "It is for this reason that I, and my East Londonderry colleagues Alderman Gregory Campbell MP MLA and Cllr Adrian McQuillan MLA, have a meeting scheduled with Invest NI at Stormont in the very near future.
"At this meeting it is our intention to put in the strongest possible terms, the urgency of attracting new employment to the Borough. The turnout at the Radisson jobs fair has given us an extra string to our bow in making East Londonderry's case for new investment.
"In our quest for new investment we are fortunate to have the unwavering support of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Cllr Mrs Arlene Foster. The Minister is very aware of the severe impact of recent job losses in this constituency and has on a number of occasions reassured me personally of her commitment to finding new employment opportunities for the area.
"Just because there is not constant press coverage of our efforts does not mean that the DUP East Londonderry team have forgotten the number one priority for the area – attracting new employment."
United Unionist Councillor Leslie Cubitt said there was an excellent turn-out for the jobs fair but that the Belfast Government and the local Council needs to continue to take action in order to combat rising unemployment levels in the Borough.
"We need to be pro-active," said Mr Cubitt. "I think as well as offering jobs there needs to be a focus on training and reskilling to afford some of those who have lost jobs in Seagate or Huco or wherever, an opportunity to reenter the workforce.
"Every little bit helps and I think this jobs fair, which is the first of a number, is a step in the right direction."