A dozen or so Dallas-area companies need to hire thousands of employees to handle the upcoming holiday rush. Now potential workers can easily tap into that job pool — paying $15 to $25 per hour — in downtown Dallas on Thursday.

The hastily organized "You're Hired! Job Fest" was created a week ago at the urging of Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. He was speaking about the importance of living-wage jobs at the Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas awards ceremony. An executive from logistics firm UPS approached him to explain how difficult it was to fill all the available holiday jobs.

"We work so hard to create living-wage jobs, and this is the first time I've ever seen this many just there for the taking," Jenkins said.

Texas has its lowest unemployment rate in decades, at 4 percent. And the Dallas-Fort Worth area's rate has dropped to 3.4 percent in the most recent report. Given the tight labor market, more employers are having trouble finding workers.

Here's what you need to know about what Jenkins calls a job "hook-up," which runs from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday on the third floor of the Sheraton Dallas Hotel at 400 N. Olive St.:

What kind of jobs are available?

Many, but not all, of these are seasonal jobs with companies needing distribution and logistics help for the holidays. Some positions could lead to full-time jobs.

"We need more and more people in Dallas who are sitting it out to realize that these jobs pay well, and they are there for the asking right now," said Laurie Larrea, president of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

Where are the jobs located?

These are 4,000 jobs scattered throughout the region, but about 3,000 are in Dallas. Although the job fair is partly sponsored by Dallas County, there is no residency requirement.

What should I bring?

Many of the applications must be completed online. Workforce Solutions will have a computer lab available and staff ready to help job seekers apply, create résumés and make copies.

But some companies, including UPS, will conduct interviews in person and could potentially hire people on the spot. Larrea encourages participants to bring résumés and identification and to dress business casual.

Organizers encourage participants to register before they arrive. The sign-up page can be found on eventbrite.com.

What companies will be there?

Workforce Solutions expects to have about a dozen companies hiring at Thursday's event.

The confirmed companies are UPS, FedEx Ground, Ashley Furniture, Dallas Area Rapid Transit and KLLM/FFE transportation.

What kinds of workers are they hiring?

Larrea said the job fair targets people who have dropped out of the workforce and also those who have part-time jobs but need more hours.

"A lot of people who have been defeated in the market, maybe they have chosen not to assert because they have been turned down before," she said, adding that a lack of high school diploma or GED isn't "make or break."

The Dallas County Community College District, one of the fair's sponsors, is encouraging students to apply.