PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -
More than 1,000 teenagers learned Friday that their career paths could lead them straight to Ingalls. The Pascagoula shipyard hosted its sixth Career Day Friday morning. If the students are looking for a job over the next few years, Ingalls plans to do a lot of hiring.
The students got a chance to meet the people who work behind the scenes, and try out the different gear and gadgets. Many teens were amazed to learn that it takes more than welders and electricians to build a ship.
"It's like a mini city out here, and it's really cool," said Harrison Central High junior Taylor Harris. "I'm really interested in going into the drafting field, but there are other spots that I could actually go into. There are so many different places you can go work here, so it's really interesting."
Ingalls invited more than 1,200 high school students to the Pascagoula shipyard to showcase all the careers and job training opportunities there. That includes more than 1,000 job titles, from doctors to divers.
"I could see myself out here doing something, going under ships, doing something with water," said Gautier High School senior Raheen Haynes.
"It really gives us a lot of info on everything because when I came here, I didn't know nothing on manufacturing engineering over there," said Gautier High School senior Marquis Wells.
The president of Ingalls Shipbuilding said the shipyard needs skilled workers.
"We're going to hire about 1,200 people here over the next few months and about 4,000 over the next two years, so there are jobs here," said Irwin Edenzon. "We just received a couple of new contracts. We have a contract that we just bid on for another five destroyers, and we have a backlog of shipbuilding work. And we need people to build the ships."
Edenzon said he would like to see the students come back and join his work force.
"This is a hometown company and we like having folks who have roots here," said Edenzon.
"I'm considering working here. It's so interesting. I'd love to come to an industry like this," said Taylor Harris.
After visiting the various career booths, the students took a tour of the huge shipyard.
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