SKILLS JAM is an entertainment brand that showcases the stories of students across America on their journey into skilled careers. Featuring video shorts and storytelling content created by students for students, SKILLS JAM is calling on the best of the best aspiring creators, builders, fixers, and makers to submit a video about their career journey for a chance to be featured on SKILLS JAM’s 2024 playlist.
“We’re asking friends, family, teachers, guidance counselors and mentors to encourage a skilled career rockstar they know to participate in our casting call,” said John Montgomery, Co Executive Director, Skilled Careers Coalition (SCC), producers and presenters of SKILLS JAM. “When it comes to closing the skilled labor gap, young adults are the rising stars making it happen. We want to share their stories to help inspire as many young people as possible to consider a viable, exciting career based on their passions and talents.”
In 2023, SKILLS JAM launched with an episodic, three part docuseries that told the story of five high school teams vying for a championship win in the categories of gaming development, video production and construction at the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta. With content shared on Instagram (@SkillsJam), TikTok (@SkillsJam) and YouTube (@SkillsJam), SKILLS JAM Season 2 is focused on original, short form, user generated content that spotlights young people pursuing a skilled career in sectors that represent the backbone of the American economy – transportation, manufacturing, and construction.
From auto service tech to welding, mechatronics to robotics, and carpentry to masonry, SKILLS JAM is looking for video submissions from the nation’s best and brightest that is fun, creative and tells the story of their skilled career journey. To be considered, simply create a video and submit along with the completed online form found via this link by June 15, 2024. Submission details and guidelines can be found in the SKILLS JAM Casting Overview.
“SKILLS JAM is about upping the cool factor of skilled careers as a rewarding path to success vs. the traditional four year college track which for many, has yielded less opportunity and more debt,” said Montgomery. “Our goal is to reach millions of kids and inspire them to carve out their futures with their own hands.”
The skilled labor gap is impacting dozens of industries that rely on the skills and talents of workers across hundreds of disciplines. In manufacturing alone, unfilled jobs are expected to balloon to 3.8MM by 20331. Through engaging content that showcases their peers, Skilled Careers Coalition is helping to close the skills gap by raising awareness of the endless possibilities, financial success, entrepreneurial control, and career satisfaction that a skilled career offers.
1According to a 2024 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute.