Ohio Means Jobs Knox County is expanding youth outreach and training programs this autumn, according to workforce administrator Brandy Booth, who updated county commissioners during September's Workforce Month. The agency, also known as the Opportunity Knox Employment Center, began a social media push this month to shift how the public views workforce development.
Booth said the office named September attendance month after hearing repeatedly from employers about tardiness and absences. Schools, she said, report limited authority to enforce attendance. Last year the agency developed a campaign to stress attendance's career impact, producing videos with help from a Knox County Career Center digital media intern and students in its summer youth program. Those videos are being released weekly on Facebook and Instagram.
The attendance effort precedes the annual Career Quest event scheduled for Oct. 7, which introduces eighth- and 10th-graders to local career and education pathways. Two new "career ready" stations were added in response to prior bottlenecks. Exhibitors include Ohio State's College of Veterinary Medicine, which will bring a goat for a suturing demonstration, plus a media company, law enforcement and fire personnel, and manufacturers. Booth said the aim is for students to attend twice before graduating; GED students and youth program participants are also invited. A five-lesson curriculum now leads into the event.
This year the agency served 25 youth through summer employment and 12 through credit recovery, with all credit recovery participants completing required credits, Booth said. Its virtual reality career lab, run with the Greater Ohio Workforce Board, is expanding and open to the public and schools, covering fields like aviation, utility line work and emergency medicine.
Booth said health care still needs workers while manufacturing needs fewer, and described the local market as stable. She noted preparations for regulatory changes: the state's Buckeye UI launch in October, expanded SNAP work requirements for ages 16 to 64 when 16- and 17-year-olds are not in school, and Medicaid work requirements expected in January. Staff training is set for December.