IYRS career day sees 60-percent attendance increase

NEWPORT, R.I. — Attendance at the Fourth Annual Marine Industry Career Day, held Saturday at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, jumped 60 percent compared to last year, according to a release from organizers.

The one-day event drew about 200 individuals, who were put in touch with area employers, learned about training opportunities and attended career seminars new to this year’s event.

An informal survey of attendees by IYRS showed that one-third of attendees were looking for immediate employment, while two-thirds came to the event to make long-range plans.

Attendees included individuals gathering information about the industry and its required skills, professionals and workers exploring a career change, employed individuals planning to retrain during after-work hours, and parents researching job opportunities for teenage children, according to IYRS.

A total of 27 marine companies from throughout New England attended Career Day, some with full-time and summer positions to fill and others with no immediate openings but with a desire to support the industry, the IYRS said.

“This industry definitely has its ebbs and flows,” said Branden Sylvia of Hunt Yachts. “It’s very valuable to us to meet people who are skilled and detail-oriented as we look ahead to the times when our needs for workers will change.”

IYRS said that this year’s new seminars, which included Summer Jobs for Teens, Career Paths for Career Changers, and Funding Sources for Training, were a popular addition to the program.

Career Day was held at the IYRS Newport campus, with support from the United Way of Rhode Island. The majority of attendees traveled from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, according to the IYRS, with others from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and other mid-Atlantic states.

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