Investing in Youth Workforce Development

Expeditors is a Fortune 500 service-based logistics company with headquarters in Seattle, Washington. Expeditors provides highly optimized and customized supply chain solutions for clients through a global network of 340+ locations in 100+ countries on six continents. As a service-based company, they don’t own the aircraft, ships, or trucks they use every day. This means they can be flexible in their approach to supply chain management, and very effective at finding the best route and pricing options.

As a high school student living in Oakland, CA, Jose Ubeda (pictured above) was given what turned out to be a profound opportunity when he started working at Expeditors in an entry-level position. Now, more than 30 years later, he leads the development, deployment, sales, and operations of Expeditors’ full suite of digital solutions. Because of his personal experience, he believes in the importance of paying it forward and offering opportunities to help other young people grow, develop, and explore careers that may not otherwise be readily available to them.

Nearly half of the senior executives started their careers at Expeditors in entry-level positions right out of high school.

This provided the foundation for Expeditors’ embracing youth education programs to increase access to jobs. They believe Expeditors can make a difference and build a diverse workforce pipeline by investing skills, knowledge, and professionalism into young talent. Because of this, Expeditors founded Opportunity Knocks for Youth in 2008. Through the Opportunity Knocks program, students gain basic skills, sector knowledge, and professional experience that can add up to career success while employee engagement and satisfaction on the job increases for existing team members.

With an established and long-standing commitment to youth workforce development, Expeditors is proud to contribute to the growth and development of Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle students through the Corporate Work Study program.

Expeditors currently employs 50 Cristo Rey students from 14 markets across the country and already knows and realizes the benefits. Adding a partnership with the Seattle school will increase access to logistics, supply chain, and trade careers for the next generation of young, diverse workers.

A proactive approach to a skilled talent pipeline is a clear and compassionate win for both employer and employee. It is meaningful to be an active part in creating job access for young people and it’s smart on the business side as well. Expeditors is excited about this partnership with CRJS, especially in the Seattle market where our headquarters is located, and looks forward to the fall, when CRJS students show up for their first day of work!

Learn more about our CWS program here.