Building Trades recruits new members at job fair
By Michael Blair
People Working Together
Building off efforts to reach more young people and future members, the Building Trades in September hosted another career fair for local high school kids to learn about career opportunities.
“We call it the ‘Taking It To the Streets’ Career Fair and Block Party,” said Kevin Ferreira, Executive Director Sacramento-Sierra’s Building & Construction Trades Council. “It is always meant to be fun, but also partygoers can land a much-needed career and get a taste of what they will do when they go to work.”
The Sacramento-Sierra Building and Construction Trades Council (SSBCTC), City of Sacramento, High Road Construction Careers and People Working Together (PWT) hosted the Union Trade Awareness Career Fair at Grant Union High School.
About 2,000 people participated, with teens from Inderkum, Kennedy, Capitol Career Construction, Foothill and Highlands High joining those from Grant Union.
Attendees were able to talk face-to-face with representatives from 28 local union affiliates. They also met with construction companies, government agencies, schools and public utilities, which have job openings.
Invited guests included Kevin McCarty, who is running to be Mayor of Sacramento, as well as Turner Construction, Southland, Whiting-Turner, Intech Mechanical, Frank M. Booth, Caltrans, UC Davis, SMUD and more. Many of the companies provided hands-on demonstrations for job seekers, on-the-spot interviews, and industry information.
“This career fair is different because job seekers get a chance to see what it’s like to work in construction,” said Ferreira. “They saw what kind of skills they need to be an iron or sheet metal worker, pipefitter, cement mason, boilermaker or electrician. They were probably surprised to learn about the kind of money they can make as a skilled trades person. These are good-paying jobs.”
While the job fair was open to everyone, it specifically targeted disadvantaged workers—at risk youth, single parents, veterans, the chronically unemployed, those who have had contact with law enforcement, women, and residents from communities of color.
In response to the current construction labor shortage, SSBCTC proactively launched an outreach program to train a skilled labor force for tomorrow. Projects already tied to Project Labor Agreements such as the UCD Tower, Elk Grove Zoo, Sacramento International Airport and more are prime locations for new workers. With a level of awareness and intentionality, underserved schools and communities are tapped to bring real career opportunities to those who need them most.
In 2021, SSBCTC began hosting the concept of the “Taking it to the Streets” Block Party in Sacramento’s marginalized communities such as Oak Park, Arden-Arcade and Del Paso Heights in order to connect with people who typically don’t get promising career opportunities.
“As a multi-employer resource department, the building and trades council’s goal is to improve, enhance, and enrich the lives of working men and women of labor by having the best trained and most productive workforce in the industry. We continue to build partnerships with developers and contractors as a testament to the fact that we remain the best choice for any construction project.” Ferreira said.