Marine industry holds career day

NEWPORT, R.I. – The International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) of Newport will host its third annual Marine Industry Career Day on Saturday. The one-day event comes at a time when newly released research tallies a 10 percent job vacancy rate in the marine business in Rhode Island and growing job opportunities for the future.A recent study conducted for the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association indicates the industry as over 2,300 marine-related businesses accounting for $1.6 billion in sales. The industry now provides 6,600 jobs, but that workforce will need to grow by some 36 percent over the next five to 10 years to meet the current and anticipated demand for marine workers.”This study defines the industry in concrete terms as a dynamic hub of business in Rhode Island, with boat builders, sailmakers, marinas and boat yards, woodworking shops, charter outfits, sailing schools, and other types of firms,” says Susan Daly, vice president of marketing at the yacht restoration school. “The industry is traditionally challenged to find people with the right combination of skills and interest to work in the field-but that signals an opportunity to those who are considering a marine career or looking at how to transfer their skills to the business of boating.”Companies from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island are expected to attend career day. Exhibitors include builders of both classic and modern boats, boat yards, marine equipment manufacturers, and sailmakers. Many of these exhibiting companies employ a full set of trades, such as boat builders, carpenters, electricians, laminators, mechanics, metal fabricators, painters, welders, and yard crew.Attendees can talk with employers, learn about job opportunities and the skills required, gather information on training programs, and watch hands-on demonstrations. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school, 449 Thames St. in Newport. Admission is free. For more information, visit the school’s Web site at www.iyrs.org or call (401) 848-5777, ext. 220.