Thousands of Kern County students meet employers at annual Career and STEM Expo

About 3,500 students from across Kern County visited the Kern High School District Career and Technical Education Center for the county’s annual Career and STEM Expo, organizers said, where schools, businesses and community partners aimed to connect youth with local career pathways.

The expo, hosted by the Kern High School District with partners including the Kern Economic Development Foundation and Chevron, featured hands-on STEM activities and industry exhibits across public safety, agriculture, health care and other fields. “The beauty of this event is that the employers also see the amazing talent, that talent pipeline that we have in Kern County,” an event organizer said. Organizers said the fair included more than 600 employers and several hundred exhibitors, and that students were actively engaging with interactive displays and conversations with professionals.

Organizers described the expo as a two-way opportunity: students learn about career options and employers scout local talent. “We’re trying to expose Kern County’s youth to all the careers that are available in our community. And why not start them young while they’re still in middle school?” an organizer said, adding that the county hopes to retain more local talent by showcasing diverse career pathways from marketing to logistics.

County communications staff noted the expo is part of broader workforce-building efforts that link education and industry to support local economic growth. The event included demonstrations, informational booths and opportunities for students to sign up for programs at school career centers.

Organizers encouraged continued partnerships between schools, industry and community groups to sustain the local talent pipeline and said similar outreach would continue throughout the year.