A free community workshop for employers on apprenticeships and an apprenticeship-focused Recruitment Wednesday hiring event rounded out CareerSource NEFL activities to highlight National Apprenticeship Week from April 29 – May 2.
The employer event took place at Ring Power Corporation’s local headquarters in St. Augustine on April 10, where company representatives were invited to learn more about the benefits of apprenticeship programs through an interactive workshop, panel discussion and a question-and-answer session with participating speakers. The event was sponsored by CareerSource NEFL along with Ring Power, the Association of Certified Public Accountants, Craft, the Florida Department of Education and Apprentice Florida.
The special “Apprenticeship and Earn-As-You-Learn” Focused Recruitment Wednesday took place from on Thursday, April 29 at the Southside Career Center in Jacksonville.
According to the Florida Department of Education’s 2024-2025 Annual Apprenticeship Report, the state achieved record growth with 43 new programs added (344 total) and 6,487 new apprentices registered, totaling 20,395 active participants. Completers earned an average exit wage of $27.91 per hour – which equates to an annual salary of about $58,000.
Apprenticeships are becoming more popular with job seekers as well, especially those graduating from high school…who can avoid student debt while earning high wages.
Beginning this year, the St. Johns County Career Center began holding one-to-two job fairs each month to connect St. Johns County job seekers with employers with open positions.
Like all seven centers in six counties operated by CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL), workforce representatives provide a variety of services for job seekers, whether they are just starting out, have lost their current job and are looking for a new opportunity, or they who want to embark on a new career.
Located at Westgate Plaza, located on 525 State Road 16 in St. Augustine, the center provides job seeker services including identifying open positions in the region, career counseling, resume writing, interview preparation and connections to networking and training opportunities. In addition, through its Individual Training Accounts, eligible job seekers can receiving funding assistance to attend local colleges and technical schools to receive credentials that can lead to full time employment.
“We’re especially excited to be providing some additional services to job seekers through our collaboration with Hope Florida,” said St. Johns Center Office Manager Summer Edwards. “Those who meet the eligibility can receive financial help with clothing, supplies and transportation costs, among other things.”
Through the Hope Florida Initiative, CareerSource regions throughout the state can provide services to Hope Florida participants seeking employment, training, supportive services, and upskilling employment opportunities.
Although St. Johns County typically has the lowest unemployment rate in the region, that rate has ticked up here, and statewide, over the last few months. The county’s unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in March 2026 – compared to 3.5 percent in March of 2025.
FSCJ Spring 2026 Career Fair
CareerSource NEFL Workforce Representatives joined with more than 50 employers around the region to meet with FSCJ students and other job seekers at the FSCJ Spring 2026 Career Fair, held on April 14 at the South Campus on Beach Boulevard.
The Career Fair gave attendees an opportunity to meet hiring employers, discover career paths and gain valuable insight into today’s job market.
Meanwhile, at FSCJ’s Downtown Campus, CareerSource NEFL co-hosted an in-person Second Chance Job Fair on Wednesday, April 29 – held in conjunction with National Second Chance Month in April. Nearly 25 businesses and organizations took part in the event.
In addition to CareerSource NEFL, other organizations hosting the event include Operation New Hope, FSCJ, University of North Florida, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Taming My M.E.S.S. Foundation, MHRC and PNC.
“Second Chance Month underscores the importance of helping people who have been involved in the justice system to redefine themselves and contribute to our community and the economy,” said CareerSource NEFL President Cheryl Taylor. “We are proud to help those who have been incarcerated transition back into the job market…not only during this event, but throughout the year.”
Every year, more than 30,000 people are released from Florida prisons and face challenges when they attempt to reenter the workforce. Second chance workshops and job fairs help these men and women overcome barriers to employment to gain employment in Northeast Florida.