Excitement is building as we count down the days to this year’s NW Youth Careers Expo at the Oregon Convention Center. But before we raise the curtain on the March 13th event, let’s pause for a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come with our community partners.
PWA’s first Careers Expo in the spring of 2005 attracted about 1,800 students, mostly from Benson High School. Today, the Expo has grown into a signature event that attracts more than 7,000 high school students and a record 190-plus exhibitors, including top employers from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
A few numbers help tell the story of our 14th annual career-exploration event. (Trust us, it’s a big deal.)
7,000+: Students expected
3,400+: Students registered from Portland Public Schools
1,000+: Students registered from North Clackamas School District
70+: Participating high schools
31: Participating school districts
28: Participating Oregon school districts
3: Participating SW Washington school districts
190+: Exhibitors
10: Industry sectors represented
45: Expo sponsors
1,700+: Students signed up for mock interviews
150: Volunteers needed to conduct mock interviews and career talks
10: Typical length, in minutes, of mock interview (whew!)
1: Free annual PWA Breakfast being held to celebrate and strengthen the ties between high schools, employers and the community. See you at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13th!
The Expo allows students to explore the region’s amazing diversity of career opportunities and learn about the skills and education needed for those jobs. Our generous Expo Sponsors make possible this event and help support our year-round work with Portland high schools.
