“Demo Day” helps students explore construction careers

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The North Dakota Construction Leadership Council held their annual demo day event at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, teaching students about their options in the construction fields.

The event gives students an opportunity to get hands on with the equipment with the help from local construction workers.

“By having some chaperone’s own site from the different companies can help us control safety so they’re watching the students making sure they’re out of swing radius and out of the equipment, but also it gives them a chance to interact with the students.”

There are also opportunities for students to learn about other opportunities in the construction industry, including drone piloting.

“The construction industry is so broad between insurance and sales. And I always like to say that construction is the foundation of everything.”

Organizers say that this event helps students see all the options that they have in the industry.

“It’s just to show them that there’s opportunities out there for them and to show them a real path going forward. So there’s different schools in our area that have heavy equipment operation programs that we can talk about and the different union opportunities. So it’s just showing them that and then just showing them the different career fields that they may not be exposed to.”

The workers also enjoy having the opportunity to share their trade with the next generation.

“What our chaperone’s are doing here, they’re with the companies they’re operators, they’re sales representatives, and they can really highlight to the students the career paths that are available.”

One student said that while he isn’t sure that he will pursue construction work as a career, it is still fun to get to be hands-on with the equipment.

“I like the equipment. And the cranes are pretty cool.”

NDCLC will also be holding their next demo day in Bismarck on May 8th. 

Organizers say that events like this one can help with workforce shortages across the construction industry.