Workforce Happenings

WOW 2.0 is an event targeting high school seniors. Seniors from the nine-county West Alabama Region will be able to speak with post-secondary schools, as well as meet with industry-professionals in a job fair setting. This event will allow connections between industry and job seekers, with the goal of filling thousands of high growth, high demand jobs available in West Alabama.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior planning to enter the workforce full-time following graduation, work part-time while attending college or enroll in an apprenticeship program with a West Alabama company.

“We have over 978 jobs available for children that are graduating from high school. That’s 978 jobs that are high demand jobs, and unfortunately only 250 high school seniors are registered to attend," said Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama COO and West Alabama Works Executive Director Donny Jones.

The West AlabamaWorks! (WAW) team is going to be there for our students to make sure that they have every opportunity that they possibly can. Tonight, (April 5, 2022) WAW will allow any parent to call and sign their graduating senior up to participate tomorrow at Shelton State. The number for parents to call and register their students is 205 464-4492 until 9 p.m. tonight (April 5, 2022). 

“We're disappointed that more students did not sign up for this event, so we want to do everything we can to get the word out and let parents and students know that these great jobs are available, and they can start as soon as they graduate high school. These companies will onboard them and bring them on these jobs where they're starting from anywhere from $15 to $22 an hour," said Jones.

If you’re about to graduate and have an interest construction, hospitality, healthcare, or manufacturing career pathways, this is the event to come to.

"This is what it's all about - helping those seniors go directly into the workforce who aren’t going to college," said Jones.

WOW 2.0 will allow seniors to interview for jobs with competitive companies in West Alabama. The opportunities include full-time and part-time jobs, as well as internships and apprenticeship opportunities. 

“This is important because HR departments are honed in on high school seniors fresh out of school with little to no experience, but they're taking the chance on our students," said Jones. "That's what's so exciting! Our companies are really investing in our students, and we want to make sure that those students come out and participate and actually have a chance at these great careers."

To view the list of companies participating and learn more about WOW 2.0, click here.