According to the Syracuse Builders Exchange, the construction industry is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers. But one way the industry is combatting the issue is through “Construction Career Days,” to introduce young people to careers in construction.
Students like Xavion Walker, a Nottingham High School student, often don’t have exposure to the industry, so they don’t know the options for their future.
“I feel open to more opportunities than just stuck on one career,” Walker said after attending the event. “I have a variety of stuff that I can depend on.”
The biggest deciding factor for him was learning about the income and the included benefits gained by working in the industry.
“I can get paid to learn how to how to do something, and after that I can go into a career for a long time, enjoy myself, and not go into something I really don’t like to do,” Walker said.
Walker is the perfect example of what the event is made to do.
Hopefully they leave this event and think ‘hey, I might be interested in that,’” event organizer Melissa Gould said. “We hope to gain younger people that can take the torch from those who have been in the industry for so many years.”
