Jewelers of America (JA) is launching “Careers in the Jewelry Industry,” an ambitious outreach initiative to promote the jewelry industry as a viable career choice among job seekers from outside the trade. The program is aimed at high school and junior college students as well as adults who are changing careers or re-entering the workforce.

The initiative will include a guidebook describing 10 different career paths within the industry: sales associate, manager, bench jeweler, mass manufacturer, wholesaler/importer, appraiser, watchmaker, designer, laboratory grader, and educator. The guide will also be available in video and CD-ROM format and will be distributed to 9,000 high schools, 900 junior colleges, and 1,500 adult career counseling centers.

Career counseling events have been scheduled in 7,000 high schools, 500 junior colleges, and 900 adult career-counseling centers.

Jewelers who wish to support the initiative can help by staffing tables at career fairs in their communities. Also, in return for a contribution of $100 or more, JA will include the names of donors in a special section of the “Careers in the Jewelry Industry” guidebook. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the program’s main sponsor; other sponsors include the Jewelry Information Center, the Jewelers Education Foundation of the American Gem Society, the Diamond Promotion Service, the American Association of Community Colleges, JA’s 42 state and regional affiliate organizations, and individual JA members nationwide. For information, contact JA director of education David Peters at (213) 607-7654.