2015 Hudson Valley Construction Career Day

From the Construction Industry Council

At Hudson Valley Construction Career Day more than 800 high school students from Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Sullivan and Putnam counties met with more than 20 construction and building unions and private employers to explore the skills needed and opportunities available for building trades in the Hudson Valley.

Instructors from different trades led demonstrations and discussed apprenticeships and career opportunities in the Building Trades to high school students once they graduate.

As one of the largest industries in the U.S., construction is facing a chronic labor shortage. Recent Department of Labor figures project a national shortfall of 250,000 skilled trade workers, and that figure is expected to grow to 2.4 million by 2018. Annual Hudson Valley Construction Career Day is staged to educate high school students about the rewarding and diverse careers in the building trades.

Members and executives of the two leading business trade associations in the sector – the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Building Contractors Association – along with affiliated union leaders, local and state elected officials and government department officials were on hand to meet with students and discuss the region’s need for new skilled tradesman.

PHOTO: Evelyn Gonzalez, 17, Lincoln High School (Yonkers, NY) Senior tries her hand at welding pipe with instructor Mike Sweeney of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 21 of Peekskill, NY/contributed