Jewelers of America (JA) is set to unveil its Careers in the Jewelry Industry outreach program at the upcoming JA New York show, July 28-31, 2002, in New York City.

The Careers in the Jewelry Industry program seeks to promote the jewelry industry as a viable career choice among high school and junior college students, as well as adults changing careers or re-entering the workforce.

The project will increase the jewelry industry’s visibility at schools and mainstream career fairs and offer prospective jewelers a guidebook describing 10 different career paths (sales associate, manager, bench jeweler, mass manufacturer, wholesaler/importer, appraiser, watchmaker, designer, laboratory grader, and educator). The guide will be distributed to 9,000 high schools, 900 junior colleges, and 1,500 adult career-counseling centers.

The program has received industry support, most notably from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which signed on as the program’s principal sponsor. However, additional financial support from industry organizations and individual jewelers is still needed to help fund the project through its final stages. In return for a contribution of $100 or more by June 15, 2002, JA will include donors in a special section of the Careers in the Jewelry Industry guidebook. The final section of the publication will feature names, photographs, and quotes of contributors in a vintage high school yearbook-style format.

In addition to the guide materials, career counseling events in 7,000 high schools, 500 junior colleges, and 900 adult career centers have been targeted for attendance. JA is seeking jewelers who wish to support the initiative by staffing tables at career fairs in their communities.

Jewelers wishing to be a part of the Careers in the Jewelry Industry program by donating their time and/or money are invited to contact JA director of education David Peters at (213) 607-7654 or davidpeters@sbcglobal.net.