A new statewide workforce development initiative will focus on preparing West Virginia students for a career in the tourism industry.
Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement at the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center Tuesday, saying the Tourism Works program is preparing for the projected growth of more than 21,000 annual job openings in the state’s tourism industry through 2025.
“We’re going to start teaching and training our students to be prepared for the jobs that are on the way, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Justice said. “We’ve got tourism jumpstarted like you can’t even imagine. We might go from 21,000 to 210,000 job openings in the blink of an eye. West Virginia is the most special place on the planet. We are absolutely the diamond in the rough the world has missed. Keep it going.”
Of the 21,000 anticipated job openings, 10,000 are expected to be in management, with salaries near $60,000 a year, according to data from the Higher Education Policy Commission.
The federally funded Tourism Works program, which was launched by the state Department of Tourism last year, now will see hospitality and tourism education programs around the state.
Justice chose the career and technical center because students there have constructed the one-of-a-kind Almost Heaven swings that the Tourism Department has placed at the most iconic scenic spots across the state, including recently on top of East River Mountain in Bluefield.
The center is also planning to train other high school programs to complete similar tourism-related projects.
State Superintendent of Schools David L. Roach was on hand for the event.
“The experiences our career technical center students are gaining from this partnership and others like it are invaluable,” he said. “The skills that the Nicholas County CTC students acquire as part of this project are second to none. Thousands of people will use these swings each year, and this gives us an opportunity to display the quality of work our students are capable of providing. Beyond that, these young people are extremely excited to create these beautiful installations and be a part of such a worthy cause. It is great for their development and for their portfolios.”