METRO EAST, Ill. (First Alert 4) -Students in the Metro East Tuesday got a first-hand look at skilled trade careers they could pursue.

The 25 annual Metro Construction Career Expo started today at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds.

The three-day event offered the chance for more than 1,200 students from 37 schools to see demonstrations from skilled trades, including carpenters, sheet metal workers and electricians.

Contractors in Southern Illinois said the need for people to fill roles in these jobs continues to grow.

“There are a lot of people that are retiring, so we have to get a lot of the younger individuals interested in the trades because if not, we’re not gonna have somebody to fix your AC or your toilet so it’s very important to start getting the students introduced in a career in c

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