WareWorks connects students, schools, and employers so curiosity about high-demand, high-paying skilled trades careers turns into a clear path from high school to the workforce.
Florida's construction and skilled trades industries are growing faster than the workforce that powers them, and most students still don't know these careers are even an option.
Sources: Florida construction industry data, TradeColleges.org (2026) · Florida skilled labor shortage analysis, Tri-Town Construction (2025) · Jacksonville City Council testimony / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
WareWorks is where Florida starts closing that gap. We meet students long before they've written a résumé, building awareness, giving them a real feel for the work, and connecting them to a clear next step.
Introduce students to the breadth of skilled trades careers, challenge the idea that a four-year degree is the only path to success, and showcase local employers and working professionals.
Hands-on experiences, facility tours, and industry speakers and mentors give students real exposure to what the work actually looks like, day to day.
Direct connections to apprenticeships, technical colleges, certifications, and employers create a clear roadmap from high school into a career, not just a job.
WareWorks began with two people who saw the same problem from different sides of the table.
A Jacksonville native who grew The Ware Group from one franchise to 40+ locations, Chris founded WareWorks after seeing firsthand how hard it had become to build a reliable pipeline of skilled talent.
Karen leads WareWorks' day-to-day mission, turning the campus and its partnerships into a working pipeline for students, educators, and employers across the region.
Our mission is to strengthen the skilled trades ecosystem by connecting high school students with meaningful pathways to skilled trades careers.
Curious how WareWorks could work with your school, business, or organization? Let's talk.
Get in Touch →This program showed me a career I never thought of. I got hands-on experience simulating what a truck driving career would be like.
Skilled Trades StudentPartnering with WareWorks gave our students direct access to real industry tools and experiences in a way that keep the students engaged and having fun.
Local EducatorWe love being apart of getting people excited about a career in the trades. It's really where opportunity meets the people ready to grab it.
Employer PartnerWhether you volunteer, donate, or bring your organization to the table, you're part of how Northeast Florida closes the skilled trades gap. It takes all of us.
Join the Impact →
The story, the mission, and the people all come together inside a 135,000-square-foot carbon-neutral headquarters. An event space and culinary teaching kitchen are nearing completion, and our "Trades on Wheels" mobile learning lab is already meeting students where they are across the region.
WareWorks is a Jacksonville, Florida nonprofit that connects students, educators, employers, and community partners to skilled trades career pathways across Northeast Florida. We work to close the gap between open jobs in the trades and the people ready to fill them.
Students, parents, educators, and employers across Northeast Florida. Whether you’re a student exploring career options, a teacher looking to connect your classroom to industry, or an employer looking for trained talent, WareWorks is built to meet you where you are.
No — WareWorks isn’t a school. We’re a hub that supports and connects existing workforce and education efforts, while also building new programs, tools, and hands-on training opportunities that give students direct exposure to skilled trades careers.
You can volunteer, donate, or bring your organization to the table as a partner. Visit our Get Involved section to start the conversation, or explore our partner page to see current partnerships and how your organization can join in.
Looking to learn more? Check out our FAQ for a more information.
Skilled Trades Institute
WareWorks is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 41-3110203. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
