PHOENIX — More than 4,000 students from schools across Arizona showed up for Arizona Construction Career Days (ACCD) at the Arizona National Guard.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
Dave Nelson, founder of ACCD, said the event lasts two days and focuses on connecting students to careers in construction.
"They don't have to go to college to do this, they can go through an apprenticeship program, and they can learn while they earn," Nelson said. "It really entices and interests a number of these high school seniors."
Nelson said the industry has seen a declining workforce due to the baby boomer generation retiring from the industry.
"These are men and women who were skilled, but they are leaving the workforce, and we need to be filling that workforce as they leave," Nelson said.
Izaiah Ramos Martinez is a senior this year who mentioned his interest in welding and said he was interested in how much construction can pay.
"They can start off anywhere between $20 and $28 an hour starting," Nelson said. "That's better than most fast food places, and that's just the starting salary."
Sydney Coleman, office manager at Rosendin Electric, said construction can offer a range of opportunities for anyone.
"It’s not just dirty work you know you can be an estimator you can do Building Information Technology (BIM)," Coleman said. "You can be on a job site doing project management superintendent there’s so much more than just the physical labor side."
Coleman said through the event, they've also seen more female students express interest in the industry.
Jaelyn Anchondo, a student, said she and her classmates were excited to explore all of the different job opportunities.
"I wanna get the women out there. This isn't just a man's field," Anchondo said. "Women are capable and maybe we can do it better, and that's my thing personally."
Watch 12News for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app!
The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.