Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which employs about 5,000 people and is the state's largest industrial employer, will hire approximately 175 more people by year's end.

As part of the hiring effort, the shipyard will hold a job fair from 8 a.m. to noon on March 27 at Honolulu Community College, 874 Dillingham Blvd.

The shipyard said it needs to fill apprentice, engineer, engineering support, and various other positions to help carry out its mission of repairing and maintaining U.S. Navy ships and submarines.

The shipyard will be hiring a minimum of 100 apprentices who will begin employment in January 2011. The shipyard also wants to fill about 75 engineer and various other positions.

Representatives from 18 trades and the engineering department will set up displays at the career fair and be on hand to answer questions about their occupations.

Human Resources and other Shipyard Production Resources personnel will be present as well.

Apprenticeships are four-year work-study programs that pay trainees while they earn an associate's degree in applied science from HCC and learn a trade on the job. The average starting pay is $19 an hour. At the end of four years, apprentice program graduates will earn $28 or more an hour.

Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old by Jan. 15, 2011; U.S. citizens; and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must pass a physical exam, academic skills test and be able to obtain a security clearance.

Males must be registered with the Selective Service System.

Only online applications for apprenticeships will be accepted from March 27 to April 9 at https://acep.hawaii.navy.mil

The shipyard also plans to fill up to 75 engineer and various other positions. Starting pay for engineers ranges from $45,000 to $68,000 a year depending on qualifications.

The shipyard employs naval architects, mechanical, structural, welding, electrical, and nuclear engineers. Engineering support positions include physical science technicians, engineering technicians, and equipment specialists.

Engineer development opportunities include full-time positions as well as two-year paid internships. These internships could result in the intern being hired on a full-time basis.

People interested in engineer and engineering support positions should e-mail their resumes to cnihhrohawaii@navy.mil by April 23.

For those without computer access, computers are available at HCC and Work Links Centers on Oahu and One-Stop Job Centers on the Neighbor Islands.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is a full-service naval shipyard and regional maintenance center for the U.S. Navy's surface ships and submarines and has an operating budget of about $687 million, of which more than $426 million is payroll for civilian employees.

For more information on Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, visit www.navsea.navy.mil/shipyards/pearl/default.aspx.