CANFIELD, Ohio – Thousands of students are getting a hands-on look at careers in the skilled trades as the construction industry works to build its next generation of workers.
Ken Reid, services director for the Builders Association; Justin Rance, business representative for the Central Midwest Carpenters; Nicole Zeek, marketing representative for Local 66; and Brian Collier, vice chairman of BAC Local 23, discuss the seventh annual Skilled Trades Expo and its role in introducing students to careers in the building construction trades.
More than 8,500 students are expected to participate in this year’s expo. Middle and high school students from northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania work with tools and materials, meet apprenticeship instructors and tradespeople and learn about the skills required for various construction careers.
Organizers say demand for skilled workers continues to grow across the Mahoning and Shenango valleys as experienced tradespeople retire and commercial construction companies look to expand their workforces. Apprenticeships offer students another path after high school that allows them to earn a paycheck while receiving training and benefits.
The expo moves beyond a traditional job fair with hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations, including excavator and crane simulators. Organizers say previous attendees have gone on to contact union halls after graduation, enter apprenticeships and begin careers in the trades.
The event also gives students direct experience with the work before deciding whether a skilled trade is the right career path.
Read more in Michael Moliterno’s story.