WORLDS OF WORK CAREER EXPO
The Worlds of Work Career Expo is a project of the West Alabama Works, Region 3 Workforce Development Council, and The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The Expo will be a fun, educational, hands-on opportunity for students to become familiar with a broad overview of high-demand, high-wage career opportunities available in the area.
The purpose of this expo is to create awareness about exciting career options among students and educators while addressing workforce needs in the region. Existing employers in the region continue to have unfilled job openings due to a shortage of skilled workers. In addition, employers face additional shortages over the next few years due to retirements of up to 50% of their workforce.
Attendance to the Expo will be available for our nine-county workforce development region which includes Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties.
HIGH SCHOOL EVENT – WOW VARSITY
High school students and their parents are encouraged to attend WOW Varsity Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Shelton State Community College. Post-secondary students may also attend. Students have the opportunity to talk to industry professionals about high-growth, high-demand jobs in our region and how they can earn these jobs in the future.
High school seniors who attend WOW Varsity will be entered to win a free semester of tuition to Shelton State Community College or Bevill State Community College.
Register for WOW Varsity HERE
WEST ALABAMA WORKS
West Alabama Works is a “One Stop Shop” for your workforce needs. WAW has a full-time employee dedicated to connecting you to the right service providers needed to develop and train your current and future employees. Each of our partners above will work directly with you or, if you would like for us to take a comprehensive look at your needs and pull together the available resources, call us at 205-758-7588.
West Alabama Works is a 501(c) 3 organization formed by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Region 3 Workforce Development Council. The Chamber serves as the managing and fiscal agent as well as the administrative support to the Council. This Partnership allows the Council to benefit from the Chamber’s resources and structure.
We encourage all of our industries to get involved in one of the five workforce Clusters (Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Professional Services) engaged in developing a comprehensive, coordinated, seamless workforce development system for our region.
In the news
Worlds of Work presents career options for students, The Tuscaloosa News
Worlds of Work at Shelton State (Gallery), The Tuscaloosa News
Worlds of Work Happening in Tuscaloosa Thursday & Friday, FOX 6
‘Worlds of Work’ gives students a hands-on career experience in Tuscaloosa, FOX 6
Thousands of students expected at Worlds of Work Career Expo in Tuscaloosa, FOX 6
WORLDS OF WORK Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you having difficulty attracting and retaining qualified workers to fill jobs within your industry? What will your workforce needs be four or five years from now? Today’s challenging economy means young people need to make the best career choice possible. However, many students do not know of the career opportunities that are available to them. Careers in exciting, stable, well-paying fields will be showcased at the Worlds of Work Expo, taking place October 5-6, 2023 at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The goal of this event is to attract youth to careers. More than 4,000 ninth-grade students from nine counties in the West Alabama area will be invited to attend and explore career opportunities for their future. Nine “worlds” have been identified as potential career pathways to jobs in our area. Each “world” will provide hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities to create relevant job awareness for the students.
Since the inception of WOW in 2015, the Region has seen a 40% increase in career technical courses enrollment and a 15% reduction in student drop-out rates. We need your help to make this event successful in Region 3 counties: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa.
We have sponsorship opportunities available. Each level provides your company with recognition exposure in publications and on websites. This event will make an impact on students, administrators, parents, and legislators, as well as your own industry. With your help and sponsorship, the 2018 “Worlds of Work (WOW) Expo” will send the message to students that there are many career choices and now is the time to begin their journey.
On behalf of the Steering Committee for the “Worlds of Work” Expo, we encourage you to partner with us to inform, educate, and recruit our workforce of the future. To join us, simply complete the enclosed sponsorship form and return no later than August 8, 2023, to the address listed at the bottom of the form. The deadline for business logos will be due August 8th. Acceptable artwork formats for sponsor logos must be -.ai or .eps for best quality. Although it is not preferred, .png is acceptable. .Jpeg is not an acceptable format due to quality issues. If you need additional information, please contact Brittani Colburn, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, at 205-391-0334 or [email protected].
Worlds of Work Exhibitor Opportunities
It’s that time of the year again for the annual West Alabama Works Worlds of Work (WOW) career expo that will be held on October 5-6, 2023! WOW has grown substantially since its year of inception in 2015. 150 businesses and educational programs will be showcased to more than 4,000 students from nine area counties. As a result of WOW, we are seeing overwhelming growth in career technical education enrollment and interest across West Alabama and ultimately building the pipeline of highly qualified and skilled workforce.
Exhibitor/Participant opportunity
Your company can set up and display all of the jobs and/or programs you have to offer and interact with over 4,000 students as a WOW exhibitor. The deadline to confirm your participation as an exhibitor by emailing your commitment to [email protected] is July 28, 2023.
If you need additional information, please contact Brittani Colburn, Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, at 205-391-0334 or [email protected].
EVENT INFORMATION.
DATES:
October 5-6, 2023
LOCATION:
of jobs require an Associates Degree or Advanced Training.
of Jobs Require a 4-Year Degree.
of Jobs Require Minimum Skills.