The Cheyenne Workforce Center held a teen job fair earlier this week. It arrived just in the nick of time, as the Cowboy State added nearly 5, jobs in the fourth quarter of last year β a 1. Air National Guard, among others, were present. While some teens were seeking summer jobs, others were preparing to enter the workforce.
Roughly 50 youths showed up, searching for work. Both of the young men have big dreams. Poutney said he wants to achieve his through working in construction. Lucero wants to work in the construction industry, too.
He's excited to learn more and ply his skills as an electrician. Lucero's long-term dream is to earn enough money to buy a house for his dad, to repay him for the sacrifices he's made for their family. My dad has been helping with everything and I just want to pay him all [that] back. Though Lucero wasn't hired on the spot, he stopped at each employer's table to introduce himself.
He signed up for the job alerts. He's on employers' radars. Now, he's waiting for the call. Jennifer Cruz, youth case manager at the center, acts as a guide for young people who are learning the rigors of the job hunt. She's been doing the work she loves for more than a decade.
Though she was all smiles as job seekers filled the room, she bristled when asked if young people don't want to work. I get the phone calls, I get the kids walking in, asking who's hiring. They do want to work.
