Wayne County Works
Having a qualified and trained workforce for your business is essential to your success. Not only is Wayne County home to highly a skilled, job-ready workforce, we make sure it stays that way thanks to some of the finest training opportunities in the region.
Workforce & Training
As part of the Wayne County landscape for over 70 years, Seymour Johnson Air Force base is home to the Air Combat Command's 4th Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command Unit, the 916th Air Refueling Wing and several other squadrons. Thousands of highly skilled men and women with specialized training exit the military annually, providing an abundant pool of qualified labor to some of the county’s most technical industries.
Founded in 1957, Wayne Community College plays a significant role in workforce development through the WORKS Initiative and Customized Training solutions. Students can earn associate degrees, diplomas, or certificates in over 90 programs. Short-term training is also available through
Continuing Education, in addition to customized training for specialized job opportunities.
Founded in Mount Olive, NC in 1953, the private, four-year Baptist College offers SACS accredited degrees in a multitude of disciplines. Besides the main campus in Mount Olive (Wayne County), the school has operated a satellite campus in Goldsboro at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base since 1975 to provide military and civilian students with a convenient learning location. The school also operates six other satellite campuses outside the county and offers a comprehensive agriculture program, as well as online degrees, including MBA.
One of the largest school districts in Eastern North Carolina, Wayne County Public Schools serves over 19,300 students in kindergarten through 12
th grade. The district is firmly committed to education that breeds advancement, exemplified through the inclusion of STEM educational models in classrooms across the county and the opening of Wayne School of Engineering as a think tank for hands-on learning.
Wayne Early/Middle College High School is a public high school located on the campus of Wayne Community College. Enrolled students have the opportunity to complete their North Carolina high school diploma requirements and a two-year associate’s degree or two years of college transfer courses in a four-to-five year period.
The WORKS Initiative, spearheaded by the
Business & Industry Center at Wayne Community College and supported by leaders and existing industry in Wayne County, was created to assess workforce needs and skill gaps and to collaborate with local industries to address their workforce issues. The initiative utilizes regional and statewide workforce development programs that have been tailored to meet the needs of our county’s unique constituents. As a result of this initiative, Wayne County became the first Certified Work-Ready Community in North Carolina.
Sometimes the best training for a job is done on-the-job, or, through hands-on experience. Many employers have occupations that require a heavily specialized skillset and express concern about finding the talent to fill these positions. The
WORKS initiative, in partnership with the Business and Industry Center at Wayne Community College, can determine the scope of skills that need to be learned and develop training classes and/or environments tailored specifically to the needs of your company and its needed positions.