Construction Inclusion Week Toolbox Talk 2

Sparking Early Interest in the Construction Industry

"You can't be what you can't see. When you show young people what is possible, you open doors they never knew existed."

— Marian Wright Edelman

Sparking Early Interest in the Construction Industry

Many young people and families never consider construction simply because they have never seen what modern trade careers actually offer. Sharing real field stories, clearing up old misconceptions, and highlighting clear paths to financial independence help students see the trades as a high-value future. Connecting early turns curious community members into tomorrow's skilled workforce.

PILLARS:

Community Engagement, Attract & Retain

OBJECTIVE:

Guide teams on how to share their trade stories with local students and educators to demystify construction careers and build future talent pipelines.

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Sample Activities

Discussion Questions

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Sample Activity Options

JOBSITE ACTIVITY

Practice 60-second "trade pitches" to describe your work in simple exciting ways and why it matters.

OFFICE ACTIVITY

Build a "Career Day Kit" with key talking points, visuals, and personal stories.

School/Community Activity

Sponsor a “Tool Demo Day” with trade professionals and hands-on activities.

Group Activity

Build a “Trades MythBusters” list as a team, ask, what do students get wrong about the industry?

Discussion Questions

Expanding our future workforce requires making construction careers visible, accessible, and relatable. This session explores how sharing personal career journeys, engaging with local schools, and clearing up trade misconceptions help build an ongoing talent pipeline.

What stereotypes do students and parents/families have about construction careers?
How can we make construction more visible, and more relatable, to young individuals?
What stories or actions can you share to make construction, and the trades feel exciting?
How can we better partner with local schools or youth programs?
Who’s someone that inspired you to pursue this path?