Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) | Photo Courtesy of Paul Jacobs website
Rep. Paul Jacobs (R-Carbondale) | Photo Courtesy of Paul Jacobs website
State Rep. Paul Jacobs highlighted his recent visit to the Construction Industry Career Expo at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in a post on social media, honoring the work of laborers across the state.
According to Jacobs’ post on Facebook, the three-day event demonstrated potential paths for a career with great wages.
“Name it, it was there: laborers, operating engineers, sheet metal, plumbers and pipe fitters, electricians, carpenters, iron workers, cement masons and boilermakers,” he said in the Facebook post. “I think that’s all. High school young adults were treated to hands on experience! This shows the other things available for a career path and great wages.”
According to the Illinois House website, Jacobs, a Republican from Pomona, was first elected to the house in 2020 and has served on the Tourism and Higher Education committees.
Moreover, WSIL-TV reported that about 600 students got the chance to meet with laborers from a range of professions, including electricians, cement masons, carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and operating engineers.
The Southern Illinois Career Expo, according to a Facebook post from the Southern Illinois Builders Association, was sponsored by the Southern Illinois Builders/SICAP. Donna Richter, CEO of The Southern Illinois Builders Association, told KFVS that the event can help companies looking to fill vacancies.
“There’s such a need especially right now for construction craftsmen because we have a lot of them retiring,” Richter told the station.
Richter also told KFVS that students filling these positions are not saddled with student debt.
“They come in and the fees are all paid by the unions and they work their apprentice programs sometimes 4-5 years long and then when they get done they become a journeyman and they can go out and work for the various contractors,” she told the station.
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