GALLERIA — With the state’s unemployment rate at 10.3 percent, it was no surprise that the line of applicants at Sunday’s job fair at the Cobb Galleria stretched outdoors and wrapped around a portion of the building.

An estimated 4,000 people were expected to attend the three-hour job fair. The event’s host, Ryla, a Kennesaw-based company that provides call-center services, is serving as a subcontractor for the upcoming 2010 U.S. Census. It is looking to hire 1,400 customer service agents for temporary positions.

The agents will be based in Kennesaw and work from April through August. The jobs will pay about $12 to $15 an hour. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma and pass a background check.

Applicants were from around metro Atlanta. The first person in line, Keith Nesbitt of Covington, reported arriving at 7:30 a.m. Sunday for the job fair, which began at 2 p.m.

Deena Betz, 44, of Lawrenceville, is a massage therapist who lost her job when her company shut down in August. It has been difficult finding work in her profession, she said. Looking at the long line upon arriving at the job fair was a bit discouraging as well.

“There’s so many people here,” Betz said.

Ryla will serve as a subcontractor to IBM partner TeleTech for the 2010 Census program, which begins April 1. Data collected for the census will be used to help apportion Congressional seats in each state and to distribute more than $400 billion annually in federal funds.

To help fill the 1,400 positions, Ryla is partnering with Magic Workplace Solutions, an employment staffing company owned by NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Johnson attended the job fair and addressed applicants, along with Ryla CEO Mark Wilson.

“Mark and I are doing our part, now it’s up to you,” he told one crowd of 400 people. “This is a great opportunity for you. We need you to take advantage of it.”

Ryla has been one of the few companies in the area that has hired workers on a large scale. Though many of the jobs have been temporary, they have provided Wilson with a first-hand view of the unemployment problem Americans are currently facing, he said.

“Unfortunately, from an economic standpoint, there are a lot of folks out of work,” said Wilson. “But, the fortunate part for us as a business is that we get to take advantage of that talent and to try to make the best use of it. We take that really seriously.”

Johnson’s business venture, Magic Johnson Enterprises, has been a leader for years in employing workers in restaurants, movie theaters and coffee shops in urban areas throughout the nation. He told the Journal that putting people to work is largely why he got into business.

“You’ve got two companies that have a great track record, done well and this is really a proud moment for myself and Mark,” he said. “We’re going to affect change and people’s lives today. They’ll be able to have a job, take care of themselves and their families.”

Terrence Malone, 47, of Atlanta, was among the many people who scheduled interview appointments on Sunday. Applicants were told they would be contacted in the coming days to interview in-person for the 2010 Census jobs.

“Most jobs right now either aren’t hiring or have a lot of applications. It’s been tough,” said Malone, who has been unemployed for a year. He previously worked for a lawn service.

“They say they’re hiring over 1,400 positions, so I’m pretty hopeful of getting one of them.”