Portland Workforce Alliance

Careers Expo

NW Youth Careers Expo

March 16-17, 2021 | We're going virtual!

Save the date! The 17th annual NW Youth Careers Expo will take place March 16-17, 2021 as a virtual event. The 2021 Expo will feature a virtual Exhibit Hall where students and educators can “visit” booths to learn about different organizations. Exhibitors can share materials and videos about their workplace, and they can host chats to answer questions. In the virtual Auditorium students can hear Career Talks and engage with professionals. Students and educators will have full access to the Virtual Expo for up to one month after the event.

The annual NW Youth Careers Expo is the Northwest’s premier career-exploration experience. In a typical year, we welcome about 6,500 students from 75+ high schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as 195+ exhibitors representing the state's leading employers and postsecondary partners.

The Careers Expo shows students the region's amazing diversity of career opportunities, along with the skills and education needed for those jobs. The typical Expo includes hands-on learning, demonstrations, mock interviews, career workshops and the chance to talk directly with professionals about college-and-career options. The event typically takes place from 9 am to 1:30 pm. The 2020 NW Youth Careers Expo, was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The nonprofit Portland Workforce Alliance organizes the event. The Expo's goals are to connect employers to their future workforce and help students make informed, inspired decisions about their education after high school - whether they choose a four-year university, community college or apprenticeship training center.

How the Expo Supports Oregon Schools

Oregon requires high schools to prepare students for college and career. The Expo helps students prepare for life after graduation by offering a rich career-learning experience, including hands-on demonstrations, mock interviews and many other ways for students to deepen their career exploration.

Check out Expo2Go, an online resource for Oregon high school students.

The PWA Expo Breakfast

Stay tuned for more information about the 2021 Expo Breakfast.

Typically, we kick off the Expo by hosting an annual breakfast the morning of, to celebrate the work of our partners over the year and inspire more people to get involved with schools. Attendees can meet students who are developing college-and-career aspirations. They can also connect with leaders in business, education and government who want to raise our graduation rates and create a well-educated, prosperous and resilient workforce.