More than 400 F&P staff will lose their jobs on March 31, and many of them attended the employment expo at Hislop Hall, Taieri College, in Mosgiel.
Organised by Work and Income, the expo was the first of its kind for the southern region, regional labour market manager Paul Casson said.
"This has been a pretty positive day."
More than 30 employers, including Air New Zealand, Fonterra and Calder Stewart, educational providers and recruitment agencies, attended the expo.
"The whole point of this exercise is to ensure employment opportunities and chances to upskill are taken by employees.
"We would love to see all 400 in full employment."
A follow-up careers expo has been arranged for February 14 to help workers find jobs.
It was inevitable that some of the workers would leave the area to find suitable work.
"Places like Southland are in short supply of skilled workers."
Fisher and Paykel safety co-ordinator Stu Mitchell, of Dunedin, said it was pleasing to see so many staff attend the expo.
Other workers spoken to by the Otago Daily Times said it was good to see such a large number of employers attend the expo.
Despite the interest from out-of-region employers, many workers said they would be reluctant to relocate to find work.
Venture Southland enterprise services manager Alistair Adams said he had no expectations from attending the expo but had beenpleasantly surprised by the interest.
"It seems 90% of the people want to stay here [in Dunedin], but if anyone wants to relocate to Southland, we have plenty of opportunities for them."
