Johnston County Eighth Graders to Attend JOCO WORKS Career Expo at JCC

Thousands of Johnston County eighth graders will attend JOCO WORKS, a collaborative career expo, at Johnston Community College

Smithfield, N.C., (October 26, 2023) – JOCO WORKS Career Exposition, presented by Novo Nordisk, is back at Johnston Community College. The event which presents real-world simulations and information about career options will be held November 2-3, 2023.

Over three thousand Johnston County eighth graders are expected to attend this industry-led collaborative supported by education, business, civic, and government partners. 

JOCO WORKS features exhibits by top employers in the region. Agriculture, Biotechnology, Construction, Education & Human Services, Health Care, Hospitality, Tourism, & Retail, Energy & Technology, Manufacturing, Public Works & Safety, and Transportation & Logistics are featured worlds of workforce. 

Students will get hands-on experience with the career options available to them in Johnston County and learn how to begin building the foundation of a career while they are in high school. 

This program helps to build a talent pipeline to meet the future workforce needs of Johnston County. Each career path includes sample occupations, general education requirements, and average salaries within the industry. For more information, visit www.jocoworks.net. 

About JOCO WORKS

JOCO WORKS is a program of the Triangle East Economic Development Foundation.

JOCO WORKS collaborative partners include:  Benson Chamber of Commerce, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Johnston Community College, Johnston County Public Schools, Johnston County Economic Development, Neuse Charter School, Towns of Johnston County, and Triangle East Chamber of Commerce. JOCO WORKS has been recognized as a promising best practice by the NC Chamber of Commerce, MyFutureNC, and North Carolina CTE.

About Johnston Community College

Established in 1969, Johnston Community College is a comprehensive community college within the North Carolina System, offering more than 35 academic programs and numerous continuing education programs, services and opportunities. The College provides programming through its main campus in Smithfield as well as the Cleveland Center, Arboretum, Rudolph Howell & Son Environmental Learning Center and the Workforce Development Center. 

Johnston Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Questions about the accreditation of Johnston Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).

JCC is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.

About Johnston County Public Schools

Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) serves more than 37,000 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Doubling the student population in the past 15 years, Johnston County’s growth is due to the excellent education JCPS provides to our students. JCPS enjoys strong community support through funding for new schools, partnerships with business and faith-based organizations, and fabulous parental involvement. 

The JCPS graduation rate has climbed by more than 13 percent in the past four years, while the dropout rate has fallen by nearly 50 percent in the same period. JCPS is proud of the 200+ Nationally Board Certified teachers. JCPS is accredited by AdvancEd, meaning that JCPS graduates are prepared to be accepted into the finest universities and colleges. Extracurricular activities abound through strong arts and athletics programs. JCPS has a diverse culture, which includes families that speak more than 45 languages. The Participate Program provides teachers from around the world and many of our schools are involved in global partnership programs. It is our commitment to live our vision as we empower all students to become successful in a global society!