Lucas County is looking for employers, apprenticeship programs, trades, and short-term training providers to sign up to participate in this year’s Youth Hiring Event set for April 14.
Lucas County Commissioner Lisa A. Sobecki, Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant, and Lucas County Workforce Development Board Chair Scott Hayes held a press conference on Wednesday to detail the event and invite employers from all sectors and trades to reserve their spot.
The Youth Hiring Event is held in partnership with the Lucas County Department of Workforce Development and is geared toward high school juniors and seniors attending public school in Lucas County. It will be held April 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Glass City Center, 401 Jefferson Ave.
“The goal is to connect our bright young people entering the workforce with an employer or an apprenticeship program that can set them up for career success in the future. When young people see opportunity at home, they are more likely to stay, contribute, and thrive here,” Commissioner Sobecki said. “We are here today to put the call out to employers and the trades to mark this event on your calendars and sign up for a table.”
Employers are encouraged to reach out to Lucas County Business Services Manager Chad Olson at [email protected] or 419-213-4537 for more information and to reserve their spot. Public high schools in Lucas County that would like to send juniors and seniors to the event should also contact Chad for more information about how to get involved.
Toledo Public Schools plans to bus about 500 high school students to the April event. Students will bring their resumes and be prepared to have one-on-one conversations with representatives from in-demand jobs to build connections and explore career tracks in Lucas County.
“Industry partners: We want your presence. We want your engagement. We want your involvement in the lives of our students to give them a vision of a life that they may not have yet to see,” Dr. Durant said. “You ultimately provide that pathway, and it happens through partnerships like this event.”
This is the third year Lucas County and the Lucas County Workforce Development Board has partnered with TPS to host the Youth Hiring Event.
“I’m proud that Lucas County hosts this event. It’s very important to our local employers and to our high school students,” Hayes said. “It can be tough to find a job. And we all know that to build the Lucas County that we all want, we have to understand the needs of an ever-changing workforce. If we can play matchmaker at this event and open some doors, that could be a real difference-maker.”