Local companies hold tech job fair for high schoolers amid shortages
The Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab, or MiLL, hosted a job fair Thursday to show students different trades and job opportunities after graduation. The organizers say they want to help address the national shortage in skilled laborers.
"Teaching the students to get out there and speak to people in the industry. That's what it's all about today," said Patrick White, who is an instructor at MiLL.
White said the number of jobs involving trade skills - like plumbing, carpentry, and machinery - are on the rise nationwide. However, there are not enough people going to the appropriate trade schools to fill in these jobs despite the demand.
Jessica Lister, who works for Mission Bell Manufacturing in California, visited the local job fair to engage with young students and help them realize their different opportunities upon graduation.
"I think for a couple of generations we were really pushing college, college, college on every kid," Lister said. "And every kid is different. And not all of them are cut out to go to college or not all of them want to go."
Lister said students who don't want to go to college could easily find full-time work with high-paying employers if they go to trade schools. She says there is not a defined path for every high school student.
"People are realizing that they should find their own path and not just the one path," she said."
Jacob Deis, who is the co-owner of Westside Designworks in Colorado Springs, said he recently hired a high school graduate to work for his millwork company.
"The school systems right now are teaching kids how to take tests, how to go to college or that they need to go to college, while disregarding all the trades," Deis said. "It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next decade."
Nineteen local companies and two out-of-state companies were on-site to engage with the Colorado Springs students, who could meet with potential employers if they were seeking jobs.
Treyston Whaley, who works for Deis at Westside Designworks, graduated high school in May.
"It's what I thoroughly enjoy," said Whaley regarding his new job. "I'm not one person that can just sit down. I have to be doing something with my hands."
Chandon Harris also graduated high school in May and is now working as a computer numerical control operator. He says he has no intention to go to college now that he's working his dream job.
"If you can get the education elsewhere for free, go for it," Harris said. "It's not necessary to have to go into debt for your entire life."
The MiLL houses a woods manufacturing and construction program for high school students. Through these programs, students can earn industry certifications that allow them to be hired after high school.
