More than 2,300 high school students from around Northern California converged Wednesday on Cal Expo for the High School Trades Day, a chance to do some hands-on career exploration of the construction field where some experienced workers earn upward of $70 an hour.
Natomas High School student Jaea Chatman, 17, said she came to the event because she didn’t feel like college would be her “cup of tea,” and her mom encouraged her to pursue a career in construction.
“My school had a construction program, so I got into that class, and I really like it,” said Chatman, who identified a tool she used in a demonstration exercise as an impact driver.
Students started out Wednesday listening to a safety video before they could head to the demonstration floor and practice using equipment on different kinds of walls and small structures. A range of local construction companies set up exhibits to talk with students about their work.
Jordan Blair, chief executive officer of the Construction Industry Education Foundation, said the construction trades offer young people a career in which they can earn money while learning.