About 60 employers from the leading companies in the Negev will gather next Tuesday, May 26, at the Technological College of Engineering Beersheba, as part of the JOB EXPO employment fair, which is held in long–standing cooperation with the Lauder Employment Center in the Negev – a strategic partnership that has turned over time into a regional growth engine. The fair will open in the presence of the Director General of the Labor's Ministry, Ruby Shemesh, who will honor the event with his presence and emphasize the state's commitment to strengthening the employment market in the south, especially during this complex period.
The college notes that the employment fair, which was originally planned for March and postponed following the outbreak of the war with Iran, will be held on its new date out of a deep commitment to the continued development of human capital in the region, even in the shadow of the security challenges. For according to the conference organizers, precisely during this complex period, there is a special importance to strengthening the regional economy and creating quality employment opportunities for young people. The JOB EXPO 2026 fair constitutes a central platform for connecting students and graduates of the college – certified practical engineers with practical training – and leading employers in the economy, with the aim of encouraging professional integration and retaining quality personnel in the Negev.
The cooperation between the Technological College and the Lauder Employment Center in the Negev spans across the entire year and includes professional workshops, study tours at selected employers in the Negev, individual counseling for academics, and focused preparation for the world of work. The peak of this partnership arrives every year, at the joint employment fair, which has become a tradition of action and professional advancement in the Negev.
Dozens of top–tier companies in the south are expected to participate in the fair, including high–tech and advanced industry companies. Among others, these include Mekorot, the NRCN, Israel Chemicals, SodaStream, Netafim, Makhteshim Adama, the Electra Group, Afcon, Vishay, Haifa Negev Technologies, the OMC Group, and Osem Nestlé, as well as additional bodies and organizations, including the Manufacturers Association in the Southern Region, the Israel Police, and the Prison Service.
Furthermore, students nearing the completion of their studies as well as college graduates from the past seven years were invited to the fair. The participants arrive after a comprehensive professional preparation process held at the college in cooperation with the Lauder Foundation, a body with broad expertise in promoting quality employment and retaining young people in the Negev. This training complements the practical studies at the college, which are aimed at providing relevant experience for the world of work already during the period of study.
The employment fair, which has been held for over a decade, constitutes a central arena for creating effective connections between employers looking for quality personnel and practical engineers with knowledge and practical experience. The event is held in cooperation with leading bodies in the industry, including the Southern Region of the Manufacturers Association, which work together to expand the circle of employment opportunities in the southern region.
Yaakov Dur, CEO of the Technological College of Beersheba: "The Technological College of Engineering Beersheba constitutes a central anchor not only in leading technological training in the Negev, but also in creating direct and meaningful connections between its graduates and the advanced industry in Israel. The employment fair, which will take place on May 26 after being postponed following the outbreak of the war with Iran, receives renewed validity this year – as an expression of resilience, continuity, and our commitment to the professional future of the students and graduates even during challenging periods. Close to 60 companies are expected to arrive at the fair, many of them leading players in the global arena, a figure that well illustrates the high demand for practical engineers in a variety of fields and their critical place in the Israeli labor market. The direct encounter between employers and students and graduates emphasizes the value of the practical engineering degree as a quality and relevant entry ticket into the changing world of employment. In cooperation with key partners, we are working to produce a fair whose goal is not only placement, but also strengthening the regional economy. The connection between professional training and the needs of the industry allows us to retain quality human capital in the south, and thereby contribute directly to the development and prosperity of the region. The upcoming employment fair constitutes further evidence of the great trust that the Israeli industry places in technological education in general and in the Technological College of Engineering Beersheba in particular."
Keren Cohen, Director of the Lauder Employment Center in the Negev, noted: "Holding the fair precisely at this time is a clear message of resilience and growth resting on close and long–standing cooperation between the Lauder Employment Center in the Negev and the Technological College. Our mission at the Lauder Employment Center, together with our partners at the Technological College, is to ensure that the excellent human capital growing here will find its professional future within the Negev. Every male and female practical engineer who integrates into the local industry is not only a quality workforce, but a strategic anchor for the development of the entire region. We are here to bridge the gap between the classroom bench and the labor market, and to prove that the Negev is the right place to build a career and a life, even and especially during these challenging days."