Monday Job Seekers Connection: Understanding an Evolving Labor Market

Start your week with a community of other job seekers who support, encourage, motivate, and learn from each other through their job searches. Job Seekers Connection energizes and inspires participants by sharing valuable strategies and techniques from professional career coaches, recruiters, and Human Resources representatives.

Topic: Understanding an Evolving Labor Market

The labor market is changing quickly, and it can be hard to know which jobs, skills, and industries are worth focusing on next. This session will help job seekers make sense of current employment trends in the Metro North and Boston regions, including in-demand occupations now and over the next two years, expected salaries, skills employers are looking for, and where AI-related skills are appearing in job postings. Participants will leave with practical information they can use to explore career options, plan their next steps, and connect with resources through the MassHire Metro North Career Centers.

Whether you are changing careers, re-entering the workforce, or deciding what skills to build next, this session is designed to help you make more informed choices in your job search.

Presenters:

Penny Hasseli is the Chief Operating Officer at MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, where she oversees programs and operations. With ten years of experience in workforce development, Penny helps individuals and organizations understand labor market trends and make informed decisions about careers, skills, and the future of work. Penny has a Master of Arts in International Studies from University of San Francisco.

Kelly Washburn is the Senior Director of Strategy and Impact at MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, where she oversees data, labor market information, communications, and digital equity initiatives. She enjoys helping people make sense of data by turning it into clear, practical insights they can use. Kelly has a Master of Public Health degree from Northeastern University.

Julie Whitmore is the Systems Director for MassHire Metro North Career Centers. She is responsible for the direction and execution of the four Metro North Career Centers' operation processes, procedures and practices to ensure impactful services to employers, job seekers, and community partners. Offering skills development and career counseling, the career center staff assist in connecting job seekers to local employers. Julie has a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology and Development from Columbia University, New York, NY.

------------------------------------------------------------

Advance registration is preferred for all Ed Portal programs and events. Walk-in attendees may not be admitted.

Parking is limited around the Ed Portal so we recommend taking public transportation.

Public transportation options:

We are about a 15-20 minute walk from the Red Line Harvard Square station or Green Line -B Harvard Avenue station.

Several MBTA buses also stop near the intersection of North Harvard Street and Western Avenue: #66, #86, #70.

Parking information:

If you choose to drive to the Ed Portal please be prepared to utilize the two-hour on-street parking surrounding the Ed Portal or to park at Artesani Park and walk 10-12 minutes along Western Avenue to arrive at the Ed Portal. A limited number of parking spaces are available in the rear of the Ed Portal building on a first come, first serve basis. You may only use parking spaces in the rear of the Ed Portal building outlined in orange paint.

To help protect visitors and staff, members of the public are asked to stay home if they are unwell or have experienced signs of illness* in the past 24-hours.

If you require an accommodation for a disability, please call the Ed Portal ahead of time at 617-496-5022 or e-mail us at edportal@harvard.edu, and we will do our best to assist you.

* Signs of illness include: fever, chills or feeling feverish; a new cough (not related to chronic condition); new fatigue; muscle or body aches; sore throat; new nasal congestion or new runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies); nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.