The Winston Salem Chamber’s Construction Industry Council and Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools are introducing high school students to careers in the skilled trades during Construction Career Days, being held November 5-6 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. The event features more than 40 local employers that will provide hands-on learning experiences for students to try things like masonry, diesel mechanics, and interior design.

Construction Career Days

Hands-On Learning experiences at Construction Career Days. R-L: Forsyth Tech welding program, Frank L. Blum heavy machinery, Pike Electric line worker virtual reality training program.

The field trip is available to juniors and seniors in WS/FCS and surrounding county school districts. More than 1,500 students are expected to­­ participate over the two-day event. Many of them are enrolled in WS/FCS Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes. The district’s CTE program provides a pipeline into higher education and employment opportunities in the skilled trades and has a 100 percent graduation rate among seniors taking four or more CTE credits.

Construction Career Days promotes in-demand careers such as general contracting, electrical engineering, advanced manufacturing, equipment operating, and more, while providing information on the educational opportunities available at regional schools to earn the degree or certificate required for each industry. The construction industry tops $17 billion in North Carolina, and many jobs are in high demand. Various careers in the skilled trades are expected to grow by 5,000-15,000 new jobs over the next ten years according to NC Department of Commerce employment data. The Construction Career Days event helps to support the workforce pipeline by informing students about their various options to pursue trades careers.

Sponsors 84 Lumber and Smith Phillips Building Supply are providing materials for the students to construct walls for two homes being built for Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County. Protégé Mechanical Labor Solutions will provide a $1,000 scholarship for a participating student.

You can learn more about this event on the WS/FCS blog.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

GOLD SPONSORS: Builders Bridge-TrueHomes | Carolina CAT | Forsyth Technical Community College | Home Builders Association of W-S | Karen Newman Fridy Interior Design | Piedmont Aviation Credit Union | Protégé Mechanical Labor Solutions | Traffic Control Safety Services | Vulcan Materials Co. | W.C. Construction Company LLC

SILVER SPONSORS: BridgeStone Aircraft Tire, USA | Duke Energy | Herbalife | ICON Custom Builders | N.C. Home Builders Association | Pike Electric | Sam’s Club

HABITAT BUILD SPONSORS: 84 Lumber | Smith Phillips Building Supply

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR: Protégé Mechanical Labor Solutions