EMPOWER

THE

POSSIBLE

Join us on September 30, 2025 

Over 140 companies attend the Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo!
Explore living wage, trades-related, and professional career opportunities across Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lane counties.

Event Details:
FREE Admission for all job seekers and high school students
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Place:  Seven Feathers Convention Center and adjacent northern lots
Who Attends:

High School Students from Lane, Douglas, Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties.

Adult Job Seekers including Veterans, Active-duty Military, Spouses, and public and private agencies.

Gain hands-on experience🔨Connect with industry professionals🤝Meet Employers Learn about training opportunities 👷‍♀️👷‍♂️ Submit your resume 📝Arrange an interview 

Thanks to our generous sponsors and 145+ exhibitors, the SOTCE made a significant impact on over 2,000 attendees from the region in 2023!  Explore hiring opportunities on our Exhibitors page and catch the excitement from past Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expos. 



SOTCE IS NOT A 'CAREER FAIR'

IT'S AN EXPO

Living wage careers come to life!

High School attendees participate in a vast array of HANDS-ON activities with 140+ companies.
Adults Job Seekers attend to meet the companies and explore trades-related career opportunities.
Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lane counties are welcome!
Are You Ready to Empower The Possible?

WHY SOTCE?

More than 3 million skilled trade jobs will remain open by 2030.
Statewide, the trades command HIGH WAGES.
More than 80% PAY ABOVE the median wage for the state.
And, several pay more than DOUBLE THE MEDIAN!
In Oregon, a workers average age is 50 years, and they are retiring.
Trades-careers are HIGH-TECH and HANDS-ON with GREAT WAGES.
The Southern Oregon Trade Careers EXPO (SOTCExpo) is dedicated to promoting living-wage careers and bridging the gap between current and future workforce talent and employers.


The SOTCExpo provides valuable opportunities for adult job seekers, as well as high school and college students, to connect with employers and explore diverse career paths across a variety of industries, including industrial, commercial, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, professional services, transportation, and more.

For High School Students: 11th and 12th grade students can experience hands-on activities, gaining a firsthand look at trade and professional careers.

For Adult Job Seekers: This event is an excellent opportunity to connect with employers actively seeking to hire. We encourage all job seekers to attend and bring their resumes to take advantage of this valuable networking experience.


AVIATION   RAIL    TRANSPORTATION    HIGHWAY    SHIPPING    TRUCKING    PAVING    TRUCK DRIVING    ROADWAYS    MECHANICS   AUTOBODY   AUTOMOTIVE    DIESEL ENGINE REPAIR    OIL    MINING    DRILLING    ENERGY    SOLAR    ELECTRICAL    UTILITIES    BOILERMAKING    WELDING  PIPEFITTING    STEAMFITTING    IRON WORKING    CABLE    FIBER OPTICS    INSTALLATION   SKILLED LABOR    FABRICATION    LOCKSMITHING    LANDSCAPING    CONSTRUCTION    HVAC    INSULATION    CARPENTRY    DRYWALL    FRAMING    MASONRY    CEMENT    TILESETTING   PLUMBING  ROOFING    FLOORING    PAINTING    DRAFTING    ENGINEERING    ARCHITECTURE    MANUFACTURING    MACHINING    MILLWRIGHT    INSPECTION    HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATION    ARCHAEOLOGY   SURVEYING    GEOLOGY   EXCAVATION    METALS    FABRICIATION   STEEL WORKING  FARMING    RANCHING    OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY    AGRICULTURE    LANDSCAPING    FORESTRY    FISH & GAME    WILDLAND FIRE    MARITIME    CRAFTERS    PROFESSIONAL SERVICES    PUBLIC SAFETY    EMERGENCY SERVICES    FIRE    POLICE    AMBULENCE    EMT    PILOT    GUARDSMAN    MILITARY  -  AND MORE!  

Event Date & Hours:

September 30, 2025  |  8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 Engage in Hands-On Activities!
High School Juniors & Seniors
        from Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Douglas,             Coos, Curry, and Klamath counties 
Meet Employers and Apply!
All Adult Job Seekers
including veterans, military personnel, spouses, and individuals referred by public and private agencies, WIOA and 2nd Chance populations. 
Feedback from exhibitors and attendees!

“I had no idea what sparked my interest, but being here made me realize that there are a lot more options than what it seems out there."  Mary Burnett, 12th grade

"This was my first experience working at the SOTCE and was impressed by the different activities and opportunities that are available to High School students, College Students, Unemployed Adults, Veterans, Service Members, and Adults just looking for a better career.  If you fit into any of these categories, then this is the event you have to be at, and the Seven Feather Casino is an amazing host and perfect location for this event." - David Martinmaas, Work For Warriors

"This is a great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a trade with little to no college after high school. A couple of years ago, I took 25 MHS and Harding Kids to this Expo. They said they really had a good time and learned a lot. They didn't realize there were so many career jobs that required little to no college. If you get a chance to attend, please do so. It is worth it!" - Stacy Gulseth, Coos Bay

"Thank you for having us, we're grateful for the opportunity to share all of the careers that we have at Kelly's Automotive Service in Grants Pass and Medford.  It was really nice to see so many youth interested in trades careers, engage with us, and ask questions.  Thanks again, we'll see you in 2023!" - Kelly's Automotive Service

"We had lots of great conversations with students at the Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo last week at Seven Feathers Casino Resort.  We were also able to chat with shop teachers and counselors, and we're excited about setting up future opportunities for some shop/office tours and visits for the schools!  Always great to help our community and youth to learn, grow, and have opportunities for their future!" - Convey

"A&M Transport is happy to be a part of the Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo at Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville!" - A&M Transport

"Great job on another great event!  I know we didn't have the numbers come through as we did in 2019 due to the pandemic, but there were a lot more kids specifically interested in the utility industry and potential careers, which was fantastic!" - Sam, Pacific Power

"Project Youth+ students from all over the valley got the opportunity to attend this year's Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo.  Students got to talk to real employers and recruiters, and even try hands-on trade work!  We love being able to introduce students to all sorts of post-secondary education, training, and career options.  Thank you, Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo, for putting together this awesome event!" - Project Youth+

“Allowing the youth to climb on the equipment, experience it, touch it, run it, and do the boom lifts and run the excavators — this is an opportunity they wouldn’t get anywhere else.  This allows them to experience opportunities they may not have considered because they may not know anyone in these trades.”  - John Jenkins, Phoenix Charter School 

"I enjoyed reaching out to potential young workers, who might need a week to train to become roller operators who make $39.90 an hour, the state minimum starting wage for roadwork, without a college degree.  My wife has a master’s degree from Boston University and she makes $22 an hour."  - John Hickey, Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon  

"The Expo is an invaluable showcase of careers available to Oregon's youth.  Students will experience first-hand how they can apply their math, science and engineering studies to real life careers with fun, interactive learning."  - Kelly Warner, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians

Event Address

Seven Feathers Convention Center

146 Chief Miwaleta Ln.

Canyonville, OR 97417

Contact Us

Christie Meacham

P: 541-580-5507

SOTCE@odot.oregon.gov

Follow Us

 

8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
September 30, 2025
5th Biennial SOTCE

   

© Copyright Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo

Website Design by Julie Niles-Fry, Custom Imprinting