EVERETT — Construction activity has dropped in the area, but local officials don’t want to shortchange the industry’s future.
About 300 Snohomish County high school students will take part Wednesday in the second annual construction carnival at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center. It’s part of the county’s effort to introduce youth to skilled work career opportunities.
“Many students aren’t aware of the vast array of apprenticeship opportunities available to them right out of high school,” said Sam Samano, with the Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County. “For a lot of students, earning a high wage while getting skilled up in a competitive field is a very appealing option, one they don’t often hear about from their high school counselors.”
Teams of journeymen will be available to answer questions and offer high school students the opportunity to try their hands at a number of tasks while learning about careers in the construction trades. Students will get the chance to ride a boom lift, lay brick and, perhaps, find a career.
Hosted by the Workforce Development Council’s Construction Careers Partnership skill panel, participating exhibitors at next week’s event include the Western Washington Sheet Metal Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, which will offer students the chance to build a sheet-metal tool tray, and Master Builder’s Career Connection, which will provide a hands-on building experience that teaches students how to build a house from the ground up.
While it’s aimed to attract students to the construction industry, the event also provides an opportunity for journeymen to show off their trades.
“The carnival is an exciting event for the trades,” said Eric Peterson with the Western Washington Sheet Metal apprentice committee. “It gets us off the job site to meet tomorrow’s work force. We get to talk to teens about the work we love and get them pumped about signing up for an apprenticeship.”
Event sponsors include the Snohomish County Construction Careers Partnership, The Painters and Allied Trades, Edmonds Community College and its Construction Training Program, Habitat for Humanity, Brightwater Treatment Facility and Star Rentals.
More information about the event can be found at www.wdcsc.org.
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