14th Annual Construction Career Days showcases good-paying careers, state-of-the-art technology to over 4,000 Michigan students

HOWELL – The Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, or MASCI, welcomed more than 4,000 Michigan students from almost 120 schools across Michigan to the 2022 Michigan Construction Career Days. Students and youth were introduced to rewarding careers in the construction industry and skilled trades, and engaged in hands-on training experiences, including state of the art technologies, and opportunities to operate heavy machinery, use welding simulators, visit with industry experts and much more.

The free event was open to students in 7th-12th grades, instructors, school administrators and others.

“For many years, Michigan Construction Career Days has been the premier hands-on Construction Career exploration event in the state, drawing thousands of students,” said Michigan Construction Career Days Advisory Board Chair Lee Graham. “After two years of being unable to have the event in person, we couldn’t be happier with the response we had this year. Michigan Construction Career Days allows us to connect with the students that will make up the next workforce generation, interact with them, and hopefully inspire them to a great future career in the Construction industry.”

Contractors, labor organizations, instructors, colleges, trade groups and educators were on hand at the event to talk about the construction industry with students, with students enjoying hands-on experiences with simulators and actual equipment.

Jacklyn Music, a counselor at Bendle High School in Burton, said: “A lot of our students are overwhelmed with how they’re going to afford college or afford the next step in their lives, so this gives them the opportunity to see that you can work and earn at the same time through apprenticeships.”

Music encouraged women to consider a skilled trades career, saying: “It’s an opportunity for women to find other interests. There’s this stereotype that females go into specific fields, but this would open up different opportunities for some of our students to see that they can do other things and still be successful.”

David Roeser, industrial arts teacher at Franklin High School in Livonia, brought 51 students with him to the event and said he is seeing a growing interest in classes related to industrial arts.

“There are so many jobs available in this field, and this is such a different career fair – this is the only one where you actually get to do the job and that’s why I bring the students out here,” Roeser said. “You can go to a 4-year university and wind up with a whole pile of student loans right now because most families can’t afford a 4-year degree and pay for it themselves without some sort of financial aid or student loans. This is a way where you can get the training – sometimes paid for or at least be working while getting the training – and then graduate sooner and be out there working before people who go into a 4-year university.”

“As we’re rebuilding Michigan, we want to make sure that young people know that there is a path for them there to prosperity,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who visited on Thursday and took time to meet students, speak with representatives from Management and Unions Serving Together (MUST) as well as several trades, and try her hand at operating a crane.

“This event shows what that path is, and why it is so important.”