EDWARDS, Ill. – Construction unions and contractors from central Illinois made their pitch to high school students today to have a career with them.
It was made at the SkillsUSA Illinois Construction Pathways: Career Experience 2023 event, held at Caterpillar’s Edwards Demonstration and Learning Center.
More than 400 students from 36 high schools and Illinois Central College met with construction unions, contractors, and businesses. They learned about internship and apprenticeship opportunities, with some even offering jobs after the students graduate high school.
SkillsUSA Illinois Executive Director Eric Hill says there’s a growing need in the industry, due to increased infrastructure spending and projects, retirements leaving voids, and people leaving the workforce due to COVID.
“Construction is probably one of the hardest hit industries right now, as far as need for future employers, and that’s relevant and expressed by all the contractors and unions in the room right now,” Hill said.
Hill says one of the focuses of the event is to also show students that they don’t need to go to a four-year university in order to have a good career.
One of those students at the event is Josie Wiegand, a sophomore at Eureka High School, who says she wanted to get a feel for everything at the event.
“Right now, this bricklaying is really standing out, and then plumbing, that sounds like a really fun job,” Wiegand said.
As part of her day at the event, Wiegand helped solder pipes together. She says it’s also helped her expand her options for a potential career.
Morton High School brought 14 students to the event. Chad McFarland is a construction trades teacher there, who told his students to keep an open mind.
“There’s no other place where you’re going to be able to experience all these different employers, all these different trades within just a few hours. So take advantage of it, talk to as many as you can. And a lot of them might be surprised that ‘Oh hey, I’m a welder, I’m not going to go into a union.’ But several of these unions want to hire welders,” McFarland said.
McFarland says he also saw former students of his behind the tables at the event talking about their jobs and careers. He says that can create a snowball effect to get more students into the construction industry.
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