With hundreds of Hawai'i residents being laid off this year and an economy that continues to struggle, the organizer of next week's Job Quest job fair is expecting a larger-than-average turnout of people looking for work.

The fair is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Blaisdell Center.

The event, which is sponsored by Oahu Worklinks, ALTRES Staffing and Success Advertising, is held three times a year and the September job fair typically is the smallest in terms of employers and attendees.

The number of recruiters signed up for next week's fair is down, 180 compared with 200 in 2007, a sign that fewer companies and government agencies are hiring.

Beth Busch, Job Quest executive director, said there won't be as many tourism-related exhibitors at the fair, but that interest from healthcare, banking and security companies remains strong.

Busch said many retail businesses also use the fall fair to "staff up" for the holiday season.

She said the big question is how many job seekers will attend.

Last September, 3,500 went to the job fair, when unemployment was at 2.8 percent.

But the unemployment rate has been climbing since then, and Busch said she expects that will mean greater interest in next week's event.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in July.

"We don't have advance ticket sales, but my guess is we're going to be up a little — people who are looking at the sluggish economy and thinking, 'I need a part-time job for Christmas,' or they're part of whatever recent layoffs there were," Busch said.

Admission is $3 ($1 for students, military and senior citizens with appropriate identification).

For information on the job fair, including tips for job seekers, visit www.successhi.com, or call 536-7222.