EDUCATION
High school students from the Sacramento area flocked to Cal Expo on October 2 for Trades Day – a dynamic hands-on event hosted by the Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF). Long lines formed as students engaged in fun activities ranging from making a mock roof and using hand tools to operating heavy machinery and building sheet metal toolboxes to take home. The fair also featured a resume station where students could receive professional feedback from industry representatives.
Born out of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange, CIEF aims to educate high school students about careers in the “built environment.” Trades Day exemplifies this mission by providing immersive experiences that introduce students to a variety of trades.
The first CIEF Trades Day began a decade ago in Sacramento and has since expanded to 15 cities and other states, including Oregon, New Mexico, Texas and Indiana. Last year's 2025 event was its largest event to date, with 1,700 students taking part and 72 exhibitors – both union and non-union trainees.
For many exhibitors, the event represents an important recruiting and training opportunity. Susan Rodriguez, a field representative for Northern California Regional Carpenters Local 152, Manteca, emphasized the value of personal involvement: “We love coming to this event. They invite us every year. It's a great opportunity for us to connect with high school students and plant those seeds. It gives us visibility and the opportunity to get hands-on experience and enjoy the business.”
Theresa Perez, Training Manager at the Plumbing-Heating-Colling Contractor (PHCC) Association, explained how the event provides an opportunity to introduce and explain the training path: “It's important to us because we're targeting students who are really interested in construction but don't know which path to take. We want to say that there is an earn while you learn program, debt free and employer sponsored. Then we go to your (DAS) website and show them “The salary determination rates for apprentices are really interesting because students want to find out if they want to get a head start in a program and get into the workforce.”
Organizations like CIEF help California youth imagine a future with a sustainable career in the skilled trades – bridging the gap between curiosity and opportunity, one hands-on experience at a time.
Read more about the CIEF Foundation and upcoming events here: https://www.cie.foundation
Use ours Search for training to explore training opportunities in your area.
November 2025