Building St. Louis Workforce: SLATE Hosts Apprenticeships & Trades Career Fair on Sept. 24

The SLATE Missouri Job Center will host the Apprenticeships & Trades Career Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at 1520 Market Street, 1st Floor Conference Room. The event will bring together more than 30 apprenticeship and training providers along with hiring employers to connect job seekers with career pathways that offer long-term opportunities and family-sustaining wages.

The event is part of SLATE's month-long celebration of National Workforce Development Month and National Apprenticeship Month, which this year coincides with the agency's 50th anniversary of service to the St. Louis community.

For 50 years, SLATE has helped St. Louisans build careers and supplied a steady workforce for the region through times of growth and times of crisis. Following the devastating May tornado, which destroyed homes and shuttered small businesses, many residents were left without stable employment. SLATE is working to ensure that these individuals have clear pathways to rebuild their careers as part of the city's long-term recovery.

"SLATE has proudly served generations of St. Louisans for 50 years, and apprenticeships remain one of the most powerful ways we can prepare people for meaningful careers while helping employers build the skilled workforce they need," said Connie Johnson, Executive Director of SLATE Missouri Job Center. "This fair is about opportunity for individuals, families, and our entire community to invest in our people and help rebuild their careers destroyed by the tornado."

Apprenticeships are more than training programs; they are direct pipelines to employment. They allow individuals to start earning while they learn, gaining real-world skills that employers are urgently seeking. SLATE has been at the forefront of expanding apprenticeship opportunities in the St. Louis region, placing 100+ job seekers each year into programs across healthcare, construction, information technology, and transportation.

• Healthcare apprenticeships are among SLATE's strongest tracks, preparing Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in as little as 6-12 weeks for jobs earning $35,000-$40,000 annually. Many CNAs advance to Medical Assistant programs, which can raise salaries to $45,000-$50,000, and eventually to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) careers, earning $60,000-$100,000.
• Transportation and logistics programs, including CDL training through partnerships with MIM Trucking, MTC Trucking, and St. Louis Community College, help fill urgent demand for drivers, serving 20-25 participants each year.
• Information technology apprenticeships and training through providers such as Savvy Coders and Claim Academy prepare dozens of participants for high-demand, high-wage careers in software development, cybersecurity, and emerging AI technologies.
• Construction and trades remain a cornerstone of SLATE's efforts. Each year, more than 50 young people gain hands-on skills in SLATE's YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship program. Participants are also referred to union pathways through programs such as Missouri Works Initiative and MOKAN, leading to careers as carpenters, electricians, laborers, iron workers, masons, sheet metal workers, and more.

Confirmed participants for the September 24 fair include IBEW Local 1, St. Louis Community College, Missouri Works Initiative, Mid-America Carpenters, Missouri Women in Trades, Heartland Coca-Cola, Ranken Technical College, Help at Home, PepsiCo, and the City of St. Louis, with more employers and training providers signing on each week.

As SLATE marks 50 years of service, the agency remains focused on building a resilient workforce for St. Louis. By creating pipelines of skilled talent and connecting residents to real opportunities, SLATE is ensuring the city is ready for the jobs of today and the growth of tomorrow.

For more information about the Apprenticeships & Trades Career Fair, visit stlworks.com or call 314-589-8000.

SLATE media contact: Ken Riddick 314-657-3566 [email protected]