Help Inspire the Future Workforce at JA Career Inspire® 2025

Author: Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
Published: Friday, 08 Aug 2025

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Image caption: Enter an image captionStudents explore real-world careers in digital design and technology during a hands-on experience at JA Career Inspire®, where local businesses help bring classroom learning to life.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI) is gearing up for JA Career Inspire® 2025 — an exciting, hands-on career exploration event that brings thousands of middle school students face-to-face with local employers. Designed to help students connect what they’re learning in school with real-world careers, this high-impact event plays a critical role in shaping the future workforce of Eastern Iowa.

This fall, two JA Career Inspire® events will take place:

Cedar Valley: September 24–25, 2025 at the Waterloo Convention Center
Corridor: October 28–29, 2025 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids

In Cedar Valley, 1,605 students from 10 schools are already registered to attend. Business participation is growing, with 48 exhibits confirmed across seven career pathways — including agriculture, trades, business, health sciences, human services, IT and energy, and manufacturing/logistics. Businesses are welcome to join either day, and we still have openings for schools in the Thursday PM session.

Image caption: A student tests her skills with real construction tools at the JA Career Inspire® event, gaining hands-on experience and insight into high-demand careers in the skilled trades.

The Corridor event will welcome an even larger group, with 4,270 students from 25 schools expected to attend. 42 business exhibits are already confirmed across multiple industries. PM sessions are full for schools, but there is limited availability for schools in the AM session — and there are always slots open for businesses to participate.

Through JA Career Inspire®, students get more than just information — they experience careers firsthand. Interactive booths, equipment demos, and conversations with professionals open their eyes to what’s possible and how to get there.