Online Q&A sessions connect local youth to available jobs
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, companies are hiring local youth. The Career Connect at Home video series helps workers find the jobs they want. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as one might expect, has exacerbated the difficulty in connecting workers to jobs in Whatcom County and throughout Washington state. However, as the economy begins to open up, […]
Nov. 19 event to help high schoolers decide on college, career
High school students and their families are invited to an informational event at Bellingham’s Squalicum High School Nov. 19 to help make choices about colleges and careers. At 5:30 p.m., Tanya Rojas, from Northwest Educational Service District 189, will deliver a keynote presentation titled “Discovering your Passion.” The keynote will be followed by breakout sessions […]
July 17, 2019: Develop your workforce and optimize your operations
Attendees of this workforce development breakfast will learn about apprenticeship opportunities in advanced manufacturing for youth and adults. Plus, they’ll learn how Lean / Six Sigma methodologies will optimize operations by eliminating waste and eliminating defects in product, process or service. Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) is a state registered apprenticeship training program for aerospace […]
YESWhatcom.com aims to build robust career pipeline for local youth
Whatcom County, like the rest of the United States, is experiencing an employment crisis. Many great jobs are going unfilled because there simply aren’t enough workers seeking employment in the trades. Jobs are out there, and a four-year degree isn’t necessary to get started on a high-wage career path. In Washington state, for example, electricians […]
Workforce development meeting, June 20, 2019
A YES Whatcom/Youth Engagement Initiative committee meeting is scheduled for June 20, 2019, 10 a.m., at the Ferndale Library (2125 Main Street). Whether you’re a local employer, educator or youth influencer, parent or a member of the community who is interested in workforce development, consider joining us on June 20. You’ll learn more about the […]
No-cost cybersecurity camp for Whatcom County students
Whatcom Community College is offering GenCyber camps for middle and high school students who want to explore cybersecurity — a rapidly growing, high demand field in the U.S. and worldwide. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities. They’ll learn how cybersecurity professionals help protect information and information systems from unauthorized access, misuse, and destruction. Sounds interesting, […]
Resources for talking with kids about college alternatives
It’s getting easier and easier these days to find a great family-wage job without a college degree. Why? Simply put, there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill all of the available jobs. Whatcom County youth who are considering entering the workforce without going to college have a number of great paths available to them. Here […]
How to start an apprenticeship program at your Whatcom County business
As baby boomers retire and taking with them their years of expertise, the workforce is faced with a growing need for skilled workers to step in and take their places. But in Whatcom County and throughout the country, employers are finding that the skilled workers they need aren’t always readily available. One effective way to […]
What is career-connected learning?
Young adults aged 18 to 24 experience unemployment rates that are double those in older age groups, and they have the greatest difficulty finding a job and keeping it, according to Washington’s Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board. Meanwhile, thousands of employers in the state have said that a lack of qualified candidates has left […]
Build your workforce with an apprenticeship program
One effective way for manufacturers to develop skilled workers is through apprenticeship programs, which are again taking hold among U.S. manufacturers looking to fill open positions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship is an “earn and learn” training model that combines work-based learning with classroom instruction using the highest industry standards. This approach […]