While federal officials are continuing to determine the citizenship of hundreds of employees at a Jones County manufacturing plant, local officials are working to find people to work at the facility.

Barbara Gonzalez with public affairs for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) headquarters in Washington, D.C., said federal officials are continuing the processing of those detained at Howard Industries’ Laurel (Pendorff) plant and its (Ellisville) headquarters.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) officials conducted a roundup Monday at Howard Industries.

Gonzalez said 595 Howard employees have been identified as illegal immigrants.

Officials said at least 106 of the illegal immigrants identified have been determined to be “eligible for alternative to detention status based on humanitarian matters.”

Gonzalez said those eligible for alternative to detention are not being detained by federal officials, but they “still have to report to court at a set time.”

Meanwhile, Howard Industries and the local employment agency are working to fill vacant positions.

Phil Hosey, office manager for the Laurel WIN Job Center, said the agency, which schedules the testing for Howard Industries, has seen an increase in job seekers.

“It started Monday afternoon when people started hearing the news,” Hosey said. “Tuesday morning, we definitely have had an increase in traffic from people interested in jobs at Howard.”

Hosey said the WIN Job Center normally schedules testing for the company on a need basis.

The office manager said his office was “notified by Howard Industries that they were in need of people to fill production jobs.”

Hosey said the company did not give a specific number needed.

“They didn’t give us any particular number. But, they did tell us that they need applicants scheduled for testing,” Hosey said. “Understandable, they will probably take more (applicants) than they normally do. I know that number is going to be increased.”

Hosey said some of the positions listed as open by Howard are transformers, assemblers, coil winders, tech specialists and electricians.

“We will probably be testing every day of the week,” he said in reference to the company’s openings. “Anyone who meets the minimum requirements will be allowed to test.”

In addition to the openings at Howard, Hosey said, the WIN Job Center is continuing to offer job seekers all possible job openings.

“We are referring a lot of people to Howard and to other companies that are listed with us,” Hosey said. “Any employer in town can post a listing with us. Then, we refer candidates to the employer.”

In Howard’s case, Hosey said, the agency also schedules the company testing for employees.

Hosey said prior to Monday’s roundup, Laurel’s job market had several openings and the number just increased with Howard’s recent request.

“We probably have 150 open job orders,” he explained. “With the economy the way it is now, the job market is good and shows that people are still hiring. ... Businesses in Laurel are still hiring, maybe not at the level people were a year ago, but there are still jobs available.”

Hosey said the available job opportunities range from laborers to compliance specialists and from retail sales positions to managers.

“We have jobs listed requiring low skills to highly skilled workers, and even some professional positions,” he explained.

Hosey said he is unable to say how Monday’s roundup at Howard Industries will affect the job market.

“It’s only the second day after this occurred,” he said. “It’s hard to say how it will affect us.”

Hosey said individuals seeking employment are welcomed to visit the WIN Job Center to apply for positions at any local business posting its jobs at the Laurel WIN office located at 1721 West 10th St. All applicants are reminded to bring their identification.

The WIN Job Center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.