Missouri students 'build their future' in Macon

MACON, Mo. — More than 2,200 high school students from 55 Missouri schools (plus two home schools) made their way to the Macon County Fairgrounds on Wednesday for the Build My Future Industry Showcase.

Charlyce Ruth, Southwestern Missouri manager for Build My Future, told KTVO this event is to help students broaden their vocational horizons.

"They can learn about different pathways, how to get into the industry," Ruth added.

A lot of options don't require a four-year degree.

"College is not the right choice for everybody," Ruth told us. "There are a lot of students that will do really well in college and have successful careers. There are an equal number of students that college is not the right choice; they either don't care for school, they don't like studying, they're perfectly bright, and they can have a wonderful future in the world of construction."

Build My Future believes the reason why more students aren't pursuing the construction industry is because they aren't being exposed to it in an informative light.

Companies in the field are feeling the effects.

According to studies from the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO), 88% of contractors nationally report difficulty in filling both craft and salaried positions.

In Missouri, 96% of surveyed contractors report difficulty finding hourly craft workers, and 100% are having problems filling salaried positions.

It's not that these jobs are generally low-paying either.

According to a 2022 construction salary survey from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), salaries in different positions across the country (on average) range from $49,920 to $98,965.

It was an exciting day for Missouri youth, one full of promising possibilities.