PLEASANT LAKE — From restaurants and auto repair shops to dentist’s offices and computer firms, businesses on the Cape are hungry for skilled workers. And on March 11, they’ll have a unique opportunity to connect with around 630 of them, while helping to teach a thing or two about job hunting and networking.

Cape Cod Regional Technical High School will be holding its seventh annual job fair from 12:30 to 2 p.m., and is recruiting local businesses to participate for free. It’s a valuable opportunity for employers, who will be able to connect with students trained in a variety of disciplines.

“With15 technical programs offered here, local employers will find students with a multitude of skills and industries from which to choose,” Cape Tech Cooperative Education Director Paul Smith said. In the construction trades, the school trains future carpenters, electricians, and technicians in plumbing, heating and HVAC, but graduates are also working in the culinary arts, auto collision and repair, cosmetology, health technology and dental assisting, horticulture, marine services, design and visual communication, information technology and engineering.

“Our students are trained to work, and the job fair connects the needs of both employers and potential employees,” Smith said.

Because of the high cost of living on Cape Cod, there is a marked shortage of skilled workers in key sectors that drive the region’s year-round economy, like hospitality and health care. That often leaves local businesses struggling to fill open positions. Cape Tech seeks to meet that demand by adjusting the technical studies it offers to meet the needs of the employment market. The school also offers special instruction in business education and “21^st century skills development,” which teaches students how to find and land a great job.

Part of that instruction is the annual job fair itself, which takes place during the school day and serves as an “employability skills” classroom for all 630 students.

“In 21st century skills courses at Cape Cod Tech, technical students are taught the employment process in full, and most students arrive at the fair with comprehensive resumes and a solid understanding of what to expect at a job fair,” the school’s announcement reads. “Other teachers also assign a networking activity to promote interactions between students and potential employers.”

But the companies represented at the fair are primarily there to find workers, and they’re not disappointed.

“Last year, one employer hired over 20 students at our fair, and we hope for similar results this year,” Smith said. Several of the employers who will be at this year’s event have taken part each year since the first job fair was held seven years ago.

There is no charge for businesses to attend the event, but space is limited to 50 employers. Company representatives can register online at www.CapeTech.us by clicking “Departments” and then “Job Fair.” For more information, contact Smith at pfsmith@capetech.us, or call 508-432-4500, ext. 312.