BELLEVILLE - Approximately 1,000 students from 31 schools explored careers in the skilled construction trades during the 26th annual Metro Construction Career Expo, held Oct. 19-22 at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville.
Sponsored by the Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA) and the Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program (SICAP), the four-day event gave students opportunities to participate in hands-on activities representing 11 construction trades. Students learned about the work performed by skilled trades professionals and explored apprenticeship programs that provide paid training, wages, and benefits without the college debt associated with a traditional four-year degree.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
“The purpose of this event is to raise awareness that careers in construction are a viable option for these students,” said Donna Richter, SIBA CEO. “And every year, there's more and more interest.”
Hands-On Experience Opens Doors to the Trades
Throughout the week, students interacted directly with union professionals including Carpenters, Electricians, Cement Masons & Plasterers, Sheet Metal Workers, Boilermakers, Painters, Ironworkers, Laborers, Bricklayers, Plumbers/Pipefitters/Gasfitters, and Steamfitters. Attendees also utilized 3-to-5-minute virtual reality simulations to test their skills in steel working, solar installation, overpass demolition, and roofing.
For many students, the interactive setup challenged existing ideas about career options:
- “I’ve really just enjoyed how much there is here to do, and how much there really is out in the world... Just so many opportunities. It’s awesome,” shared one student attendee.
- Another student remarked on the appeal of non-traditional learning: “I really like that because I don’t like sitting in school, so I could work every day, besides four times a year, and that seems awesome to me.”
- A female student attendee noted how the expo broadened her horizons: “It really has me looking towards a construction career. I want to try something new. I’m not the type to do ‘boy work,’ and this is something that I’ve never done.”
Earning While Learning: The Debt-Free Advantage
A central focus of the Expo was educating students and parents about the financial advantages of union apprenticeships compared to traditional higher education. While the average four-year college graduate leaves school with over $38,000 in student debt, union apprentices start earning average paychecks of $25 per hour from week one, graduating debt-free with potential earnings exceeding $220,000 over the course of their training.
“If they get into an apprenticeship program, there’s no debt. The unions pay for the books, they pay for the tools, they pay for the training,” Richter emphasized. “And keep in mind that all of these construction trades also have health, welfare, and pension paid for by the employer.”
Student attendees resonated strongly with the ability to build financial stability early:
- “I like the idea of not going to school every once in a while, but still being able to make money while you’re going to school and not trying to manage college and work at the same time,” noted one student.
- “I enjoy it more than being in school, to be honest,” added another student attendee. “I like being out and making money.”
Building the Next Generation Workforce
The Expo arrives at a critical time as the construction industry seeks to fill positions left by retiring workers across Southern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region.
“There’s a lot of positions that are open in the various trades,” Richter said. “A lot of these tradesmen and women are getting to the point that they’re retiring, and so we need to get the younger generation involved.”
For those already on the path, the rewards extend beyond the paycheck.
“Hard work and being able to get the job done, The people you work with and that sense of capability and confidence that comes with it,” said Ryleigh Jones, a Laborers’ Apprentice. “Just being able to look at a building and say, ‘I built that.’”
Students, parents, or individuals interested in exploring apprenticeship programs and construction career pathways are encouraged to contact SIBA at 618-624-9055, email CEO@siba-agc.org, or visit SIBA-AGC.org.
Video of the 2026 Metro Construction Career Expo is available at: https://youtu.be/s07mcI52jFY
About Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA)The Southern Illinois Builders Association advances the construction industry through strengthening its members so they can accomplish collectively what they cannot on their own. SIBA offers a full range of valuable member services and programs as “the voice of the construction industry in Southern Illinois.”
