FUTURE EMPLOYMENT
Career Jam opens kids’ eyes to future jobs
QUEENSBURY, N.Y. >> Andrew Monroe, of Saratoga Springs, got a look at job opportunities he didn’t know existed before attending the second annual Career Jam on Thursday.
More than 1,800 eighthand ninth-graders from Indian Lake to Kinderhook visited the large Adirondack Sports Complex Dome where 70 employers in fields ranging from building trades to technology introduced kids to their respective industries.
The event was organized by Saratoga Economic Development Corp., BOCES and the Workforce Investment Board to address one of the Capital Region’s most critical needs – new, young employees for jobs being vacated by retiring Baby Boomers.
“It was really cool,” said Monroe, a Maple Avenue Middle School student. “There’s a lot of good careers I never really knew about. I enjoyed it.”
Ball Corp., in Saratoga Springs, manufactures 9 million containers per day for beverages such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Budweiser beer and specialty drinks like Sheetz Iced Coffee. The worldwide company employs 183 people locally but has a need
"It was relly cool. There’s a lot of good careers I never really knew about. I enjoyed it. " — Andrew Monroe
for more workers who start out at $26-per-hour, with a chance for rapid advancement and pay increases up to $36-per-hour.
“We’re always looking for candidates,” said Patrick White, Ball’s process team leader. “They start at the base production technician level and rotate through each area to see which part of the plant they’re best suited for. They could do anything from millwright to electrical work.”
Ball began operating in Saratoga in 1981, and many of original employees have either retired or soon will be, creating demand for new people.
“It’s a fast-paced atmosphere,” White said. “Young kids right out of high school are some of the best employees we’ve found. They’re energetic, interested and learn really fast.”
Witt Construction owner John Witt staffed a booth for the Saratoga Builders Association, which said many construction jobs such as masonry/stonework, excavation and trim carpentry pay from $80,000 to $100,000 annually.
“A lot of kids come out of college and don’t do anything with their degree,” Witt said. “It’s good to show them that you can have a great career in any of the trades like plumbing, electrical and HVAC. We’re really lacking all kinds of construction workers.”
Other local employers on hand included Saratoga Hospital, Global-Foundries, Ballston Spa National Bank, Curtis Lumber, Quad Graphics, and Momentive in Waterford.
Career Jam, the only event of its kind in the region, is the brainchild of SEDC Economic Development Specialist Ryan Van Amburgh.
“This is double the size of last year’s inaugural event,” he said. “The idea is to expose kids to all the career opportunities available before they have to pick a track in high school. The immediate impact is that it opens their eyes and minds to what’s out there.”
Long-term, however, it’s hoped that schools keep lines of communication open with area companies, to build relationships that lead to jobs for students as they head into the workforce.
By talking to current employees at Career Jam, young people also learn the education and training requirements needed for certain jobs.
“We protect natural resources and we protect people,” said state Forest Ranger Tony Goetke, who covers Saratoga and Washington counties. “So you need to learn outdoor resource management to be qualified to take the civil service exam. A lot of people go to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse or Paul Smith’s College.”
Warrensburg High School Principal Doug Duell said Career Jam is helpful because it’s designed for younger students, which helps them make informed choices about what they’d like to do in life.
“This is awesome and it’s a fantastic venue,” he said. “There’s a lot of cool things for them to do. There are all kinds things out there waiting for them.”