Santa Cruz Job Fair Offers Hands-On Career Opportunities

Skilled trades fair connects locals with employers like UC Santa Cruz and Joby Aviation

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A free Skilled Trades Job Fair is coming to Santa Cruz County on March 18, offering local residents direct access to employers like UC Santa Cruz, Joby Aviation, and Big Creek Lumber. Hosted by the City and County of Santa Cruz and partners, the event at the Grove Event Center will feature job leads, apprenticeships, training info, plus translation and resume help for adults 18 and over.

Why it matters

The job fair provides an opportunity for Santa Cruz residents, especially those interested in hands-on, skilled trades careers, to connect directly with local employers and learn about available positions, training programs, and apprenticeships. This event aims to help address workforce needs in the region and support economic development.

The details

The Skilled Trades Job Fair will take place on March 18 at the Grove Event Center in Santa Cruz. The event is free and open to adults 18 and over. Attendees will have the chance to speak with representatives from companies like UC Santa Cruz, Joby Aviation, and Big Creek Lumber, as well as learn about apprenticeship programs and receive assistance with resumes and translation services.

  • The Skilled Trades Job Fair will be held on March 18, 2026.

The players

City and County of Santa Cruz

The local government entities hosting the Skilled Trades Job Fair in partnership with other organizations.

UC Santa Cruz

A major employer in the Santa Cruz area that will be represented at the job fair.

Joby Aviation

An aerospace company that will be recruiting at the Santa Cruz job fair.

Big Creek Lumber

A lumber company that will be participating in the Skilled Trades Job Fair.

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What’s next

The Skilled Trades Job Fair is a one-day event on March 18, 2026, so the next steps will be for job seekers to attend the fair and connect with the participating employers and training programs.

The takeaway

This job fair provides a valuable opportunity for Santa Cruz residents interested in skilled trades careers to directly engage with local employers and learn about available positions, apprenticeships, and training programs, helping to address workforce needs in the region.