Pinellas Job Corps Center to Close Amid Federal Program Shutdown, Displacing Hundreds

The Pinellas Job Corps Center, a vital resource for vocational training and education for low-income youth in St. Petersburg, is scheduled to close by June 30, 2025. This closure is part of a broader decision by the U.S. Department of Labor to pause operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide.

The Department of Labor cited financial challenges and concerns over program effectiveness as reasons for the shutdown. According to a 2025 Transparency Report, the program had a national graduation rate of 38.6% and an average annual cost of over $80,000 per student. However, staff at the Pinellas center argue that these figures do not reflect recent improvements, noting that their center currently operates at 87% capacity and has seen significant success in placing graduates into the workforce.

The closure impacts approximately 260 students, many of whom reside on campus and come from challenging backgrounds, including homelessness and aging out of foster care. Efforts are underway to assist these students in transitioning to other educational or vocational opportunities, but concerns remain about the abrupt nature of the shutdown and its potential long-term effects on the community.

Local leaders, including U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, have expressed opposition to the closure, emphasizing the program's role in providing critical support and opportunities to at-risk youth. As the June 30 deadline approaches, the community continues to seek solutions to mitigate the impact of this significant loss.