Fifteen hundred San Antonio-area students are spending this week shadowing working professionals during the annual Job Shadow Days organized by SA WORX, greater:SATX’s workforce development program. Now in its ninth year, Job Shadow Days aim to increase student awareness of the many career pathways available to them in the Greater San Antonio region. Fifty employers representing advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, information technology, and hospitality, among other sectors, are participating in this year’s Job Shadow Days.
Having a robust talent pipeline to ensure the region has the workforce needed to support employers starts in the classroom. For our team working on SA WORX programs, that means there is much work to be done, and it has been a busy start to the year for them. In the first two months of 2024, they have supported several programs intended to spark career interest in younger students and prepare older students for the jobs they will eventually hold.
The greater:SATX workforce development team and Alamo Fellows supported several area youth summits in January. The Alamo STEM Youth Summit works to broaden STEM career awareness amongst San Antonio students. More than 400 middle and high school students spent a day on the St. Mary’s University campus where they connected with mentors in the local community who are working in industries with quality, high-paying jobs. The students participated in hands-on workshops meant to develop leadership and soft skills. The summit was hosted by the Intercultural Development Research Association and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT).
The Future Ready Youth Summit hosted by UP Partnership promotes increased enrollment in post-secondary education and job training programs. UP Partnership’s goal is to have 70% of Bexar County high school graduates matriculate into a degree- or credential-awarding program by 2030. At both summits, our greater:SATX team and Alamo Fellows supported students through mock interviews. These opportunities provided students the chance to refine their pitches, while practicing their interview skills. Our team also shared insightful tips and resources to help students as they continue preparing for interviews.
The workforce development team also met with site selectors from Communities in Schools to discuss summer internship efforts. Every year, greater:SATX coordinates summer internships that place students in a six-week long experience to explore career pathways. greater:SATX will soon start recruiting employers for this year’s internship program which will be held June 17 – July 26, 2024.
Ensuring our region has the talent to fill jobs can only be done through collaborative efforts. We are greater together when our employers, education, and economic development partners work together to educate our youth, while also upskilling and supporting our workforce. greater:SATX is proud to support these efforts through our SA WORX programs and initiatives.