To connect shipbuilding contractors with trained job candidates and address critical shortages in the shipyard workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Industrial Base Teams expanded their new partnership with the NAVSEA-DOL Job Corps Shipbuilding Career Fair on Wednesday at the Exeter Job Corps Center.  
 
The event drew 160 Job Corps students from 22 Job Corps campuses representing the Construction and Advanced Manufacturing industry training areas (such as Welding and Marine Pipefitting). NAVSEA officials met with current Job Corps students to assist in the command’s ongoing hiring push.   

Job Corps Deputy Administrator for Regional Operations Peni Webster-Lewis joined the speaking program with NAVSEA and Navy officials, as well as recruiters from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Amtrol.

“Job Corps campuses represent a single location for job seekers, employers, industries and the workforce to satisfy their needs. It’s a fluid system that works seamlessly across all industries,” Webster-Lewis said. “Our open houses with NAVSEA have been building momentum as we develop more and more connections between our students and prominent shipbuilding employers. The Navy has identified a crucial infrastructure need, and Job Corps has immediately come to their aid.

The career fair comes amid a major push by NAVSEA to establish more pipeline pathways for employees to fill the demands of employers who serve the Navy’s shipbuilding interests. This event follows four NAVSEA-DOL Job Corps-partnered career fairs, which collectively drew more than 400 Job Corps students from 40 campuses.

“This is an opportunity for you to be involved in something bigger than yourself,” said Matt Evans, Director of the Shipbuilding Industrial Base Trask Force. “People are wowed by your talent, wowed by what you’re doing today and consistently ask ‘where do I sign up to get one of these students in my facility.’”