Michigan Construction Career Days Draws Record Students to Explore Skilled Trades Careers
Governor Whitmer joins industry leaders, students, educators and construction professionals at Michigan’s largest hands-on construction career event
HOWELL, Mich. – The sounds of hammers, power tools, heavy equipment, and thousands of students discovering new possibilities filled the Operating Engineers 324 Construction Career Center on April 29 and 30 as the 18th Annual Michigan Construction Career Days (MICCD) welcomed a record-breaking crowd to Michigan’s largest hands-on construction career exploration event.
Hosted by the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI), this year’s event boasted 5,200 registered students from grades 7-12 representing over 120 schools across Michigan, along with educators, counselors, industry professionals, contractors, labor organizations, colleges, government agencies, and workforce development partners. The two-day event was held on the sprawling 560-acre Operating Engineers 324 Construction Career Center campus in Howell.
Students explored dozens of hands-on construction experiences, operating equipment, trying skilled trades activities, and speaking directly with apprentices, instructors, contractors, and employers about career opportunities throughout Michigan’s construction industry.
“This event continues to grow because students, educators, contractors, unions, and industry partners all recognize the value of connecting young people with rewarding career opportunities,” said Lee Graham, Chairman of the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee and Chairman of the Operating Engineers 324 Labor-Management Education Committee. “Every year we think we’ve reached a new high-water mark, and every year the event becomes even larger and more successful. This year’s record number of students, exhibitors, sponsors, and participating schools demonstrates the tremendous demand for skilled trades careers and the industry’s commitment to developing the next generation of Michigan’s workforce.”
A highlight of the event came on April 29 when Governor Gretchen Whitmer toured the facility and met with students, educators, and industry representatives. During her visit, the Governor spoke with representatives from the construction industry, contractor Walbridge, Helmets to Hardhats, the Michigan Pipe Trades, and other participating organizations. She also had the opportunity to operate an electric excavator, experiencing firsthand some of the technology helping shape the future of construction.
The response from educators attending the event was overwhelmingly positive.
“Thank you for planning such an amazing event,” said Beth Smith, an educator who attended with students. “My students said it was the best field trip ever. I especially liked the addition of the military careers and vehicles this year. It was a highlight for my students to stay until the end and watch the helicopter depart. Congratulations on another successful event.”
Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to climb ironworker structures, operate heavy equipment simulators, try welding activities, explore electrical and plumbing trades, and engage with dozens of exhibitors representing nearly every segment of Michigan’s construction industry, including several Michigan colleges and universities with construction-related programs.
Industry representatives said the event plays a critical role in addressing workforce needs while helping students discover rewarding, debt-free career opportunities.
“Michigan Construction Career Days is about more than showing students equipment; it’s about opening doors to debt-free, professional careers,” said Wanda Bigelow, State Apprenticeship Expansion Lead Analyst with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “It was a privilege to help coordinate a team of volunteers that made these meaningful connections possible for so many students.”
Felicia Wiseman, Membership Development Representative and Treasurer of IBEW Local 58, spent the event speaking with students interested in the skilled trades.
“At this year’s Michigan Construction Career Days, I had the opportunity to speak with many students who were considering a career path in the skilled trades,” Wiseman said. “I was able to provide insight into what they should be doing now, the prerequisites involved, and the different application processes used by various trades. People often think there’s some mystery to getting into the trades, but there is a process—similar to applying to a college or university—and events like this help students understand exactly how to take that next step.”
The annual event continues to serve as one of Michigan’s premier workforce development initiatives, exposing students to career opportunities that offer family-sustaining wages, strong benefits, advanced training, and pathways to long-term success without the burden of student loan debt.
Michigan Construction Career Days is organized by the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI), a statewide organization founded in 1977 to advocate for and promote Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. MASCI brings together representatives from labor organizations, employers, government agencies, educational institutions, and the public to strengthen Michigan’s workforce development system and connect future generations with rewarding careers in construction, manufacturing, and other skilled trades.