St. Johns County Chamber Hosts Healthcare Career Expo to Support Workforce Growth
As St. Johns County’s healthcare industry continues to expand, so does the need for a skilled workforce to support it. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce helped address that need with the 2026 Healthcare Career Expo by connecting local employers with the next generation of talent.
Held at First Coast Technical College, the event featured three dozen employers and gave students and job seekers the opportunity to explore career paths, learn about training and education programs, and connect directly with hiring organizations across the healthcare sector.
“It is really important for St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce to support St. Johns County government, our school district for sports, and technical college by hosting this expo in order to support our healthcare industry and employers who are looking for new hires,” said Chamber President and CEO Isabelle Renault.
Students and job seekers got a closer look at potential career pathways, including roles that support healthcare systems beyond traditional clinical positions.
“Being out at this event is amazing because it brings people together and lets me experience career fairs so I can connect with people and meet them firsthand,” said student Julian Rodriguez.
Healthcare leaders emphasized the importance of increasing awareness of the wide range of opportunities available within the industry.
“Most people know about doctors and nurses because that’s what they see growing up,” said Jessica Peña, Vice President of Talent Management at Baptist Health, one of the presenting sponsors. “But we want to ensure they understand there are plenty of opportunities within healthcare.”
Renault also noted the rapid expansion of healthcare facilities in the county and the growing demand for workers.
“So what has happened in St. Johns County is we’ve gone from one large medical facility to six in just a few years, and the need for our workforce is about 3,500 jobs over the next four years,” Renault said.
The event was designed to reach a broad audience, including students, parents, and individuals considering a career change.
“It’s really important that we have opportunities like this to bring not only high school and college students, but also parents and those looking to transition into the healthcare industry,” Renault added.
By creating opportunities for direct engagement between employers and the community, the Chamber continues to support both local businesses and residents while helping build a strong workforce pipeline for the future.