Students learn what it takes to work a construction job

The construction industry in the United States is projecting a deficit of more than one million skilled labor jobs in 2012, and officials in Fort Scott Community College’s Construction Trades Program are doing everything they can to get students interested in learning a trade.

That includes bringing area eighth grade students to FSCC’s Pittsburg campus to attend its third annual Careers in Construction Week. Beginning on Tuesday, eighth graders from Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee Counties joined FSCC instructors Kim Coates and Nacoma Oehme for interactive demonstrations in the carpentry and masonry fields.

On Thursday, more than 80 Girard Middle School eighth graders visited the campus. They learned how brick masons spread mortar and set bricks, how to operate an excavator and skid loader, and how to use wood routers, palm sanders, miter saws, drill and nail guns.

“These kids are at a place where they’re starting to look at what direction they want to take during and after high school,” said Chris Sterrett, who directs the construction trades program. “We’re trying to get them fired up and maybe take a look at careers in construction.”  

The incentives are strong, too. In an age when college graduates with four-year degrees can’t find work and are moving home in increasing numbers, the financial rewards for learning a trade can be appealing. Consider the following average salaries for trade workers in Kansas in 2010:

• Carpenter — $40,230
• Architectural/civil drafter — $41,530
• Electrician — $45,990
• Surveyor — $48,470
• Steel worker — $49,450
• Brickmason — $50,960
• First line supervisor — $56,290
• Civil engineer — $75,540
• Project manager — $79,370

“What we’re hearing from the industry is that six out of 10 jobs will require some post-high school education but not a full college degree,” Sterrett said. “The wages are good and it’s a lot safer than it used to be. But it also goes at a lot faster pace. Technology has really sped up the process, and if they have some basic skill, there are some good jobs for them.”

Founded in 2007 with funding from a three-year, $2 million Community Based Job Training Grant, the construction trades program has locations at its main campus in Fort Scott and a satellite campus at 1301 E. 27th St. in Pittsburg. And its popularity, and accolades, are growing; Just last year, one of its students, Christopher Schaller, won the silver medal in carpentry at the SkillsUSA national competition. There are 16 different-timed trade categories in the competition, including brick laying, culinary arts, beauty therapy, cabinet making and welding, among others. The winners of the national competition go on to compete in the world competition.

Last year, FSCC went to Girard and other schools to put on smaller demonstrations, said eighth grade math teacher Nate Clevenger. The opportunity to let his students experience the trades up close was too good to pass up, he said.

“I never got to operate this type of equipment, even as an adult,” Clevenger said as he watched his students drive a skid loader through a slalom course. “They’re getting to do this as eighth graders. I can tell by the way they’re running around and waiting in line that they’re very interested.”

Eighth grader Latricia Pike said she was having a good time at the event.

“It’s something we can do together,” Pike said. “We hardly get to get out of class and meet with our friends. It’s a lot of fun, and we get to get dirty.”

Pike said she has an uncle who specializes in construction, but that she doesn’t know much about what his job entails.

“It’s fun to see how they do it because I never get to watch him,” Pike said.

Tanner Stout also said he had a good time.

“Driving the equipment was really cool,” Stout said. “It’s a lot better than school.”

Would he consider a career in it?

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s not that bad at all.”