The Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council, in partnership with its YES (Your Employability Skills) Program, successfully hosted the annual Schuylkill County Career Fair on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Martz Hall, Pottsville Area High School. The event brought together over 900 students from 14 area high schools and 51 participating vendors representing local employers, colleges, military branches, and community organizations.
Held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Career Fair offered students valuable face-to-face interactions with professionals across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, banking, law enforcement, education, and public service. The goal: to expose students to real-world career options, training opportunities, and community resources available within Schuylkill County and the surrounding region.
Among the many organizations in attendance were St. Luke’s University Health Network, TE Connectivity, Michael Foods, Mid Penn Bank, Hydro, the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Army and Marines, Penn State Schuylkill, and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Workforce development agencies such as PA CareerLink and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also had a strong presence.
Students had the opportunity to meet with professionals, ask questions, collect materials, and learn what different career paths require in terms of skills, education, and training. For many, the event served as a first step in considering life after graduation.
In addition to career exploration, the fair featured a strong showing from local and regional community-based organizations, including SARCC, FCI Schuylkill, Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, SKIP, and Schuylkill County’s VISION, each offering information on services and supports that are essential to long-term personal and professional success.
Participating schools included Pottsville Area, Minersville, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, Pine Grove, Shenandoah Valley, and others—each arriving in staggered groups throughout the morning to allow students maximum engagement time with vendors.
Darlene J. Robbins, President of the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council, praised the collaborative spirit of the event:
“This Career Fair continues to demonstrate the impact of connecting our youth directly with employers, educators, and service providers. It’s about helping them envision a future in our region and equipping them with the tools to get there.”
The event is a cornerstone of the Council’s broader mission to build a stronger regional workforce by aligning education, industry, and community support. It also reinforces the goals of the YES Program, which prepares high school students with the foundational skills they need for both employment and lifelong success.