Holmes County will host its 2025 Fall Job Expo on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Harvest Ridge Expo & Event Center, offering a two-part schedule designed to serve students and the wider public. East and West Holmes junior and senior high school students will attend from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a public session open to all residents from noon to 2 p.m. Dozens of local employers are expected to participate, providing networking opportunities, career guidance and hands-on exploration of trade and professional paths.

Organizers positioned the event as a bridge between local employers and potential new hires, particularly young people making decisions about careers and postsecondary plans. The morning session gives juniors and seniors a structured opportunity to learn about on-the-job options, apprenticeships and entry-level openings, while the midday public session extends those resources to adults seeking work or career changes.

For a largely rural county such as Holmes, initiatives that concentrate local hiring and career information in one place reduce barriers that can limit job matches. Bringing employers to a central venue reduces the need for long commutes to urban job centers and makes it easier for smaller businesses to show tangible aspects of their work, from trade demonstrations to technology displays. Employers, in turn, gain direct access to local talent pools and can promote openings, training pathways and seasonal work.

The format emphasizes practical engagement: employers will offer hands‑on exploration of trades and professional roles, an approach that can help students and jobseekers assess fit beyond traditional classroom descriptions. Career guidance at the expo is intended to clarify next steps, whether that means pursuing apprenticeships, vocational training, community college programs or immediate employment. By concentrating information and personal contacts, the expo aims to accelerate matches between open positions and qualified candidates.

Beyond immediate job leads, events like the Holmes County Job Expo play a longer-term role in workforce development by strengthening ties between schools, employers and the broader community. Sustained employer engagement can support curriculum alignment, create internship pathways and reduce local labor shortages in key occupations. For residents considering career moves or high school students planning their next steps, the Nov. 13 event offers a focused opportunity to explore options close to home.

The Harvest Ridge Expo & Event Center will host the event; residents and students are encouraged to attend the session that applies to them—students from 9 a.m. to noon and the public from noon to 2 p.m.—to take advantage of direct access to dozens of Holmes County employers and practical career resources.