Construct Tomorrow Hiring Event Returns to Blaine, Connecting Students to Minnesota’s Union Construction Careers

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the cavernous indoor fields of the National Sports Center will be transformed into something rarely seen by high school students: a working cross section of Minnesota’s union construction economy.

From 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Construct Tomorrow Hiring Event will bring hundreds of students face to face with the tools, techniques, and people behind some of the state’s most essential and high-demand careers. More than a career fair, the event is structured as an immersive introduction to skilled trades that increasingly form the backbone of Minnesota’s infrastructure, housing, and economic growth.

A Statewide Workforce Strategy, Up Close

Organized by Construct Tomorrow, the event is part of a statewide effort to address a growing shortage of skilled labor as experienced tradespeople retire faster than new workers enter the field. The initiative focuses on early exposure, targeting high school students before postsecondary decisions are made and before misconceptions about construction careers take root.

Participation for the Blaine event is coordinated through the Anoka County Job Training Center, which works directly with schools and counselors across the region. Organizers say most slots are already filled, though limited openings remain for eligible students.

Unlike traditional career fairs built around brochures and presentations, Construct Tomorrow is designed around physical engagement. Students do not just hear about the trades. They try them.

Learning by Doing

Throughout the day, students rotate through hands-on stations representing more than a dozen union trades. Under the supervision of trained professionals, participants wire basic electrical circuits, practice safety harness techniques used by ironworkers, and work with simulators that introduce welding and pipe assembly. At other stations, students use carpentry and sheet metal tools to build small projects or learn the fundamentals of concrete finishing and tile setting.

The goal is not mastery, but familiarity. Organizers describe the experience as a way for students to test drive careers that are often invisible in classrooms but foundational to daily life.

Equally important are the conversations. Journeyworkers, apprentices, and instructors share firsthand accounts of how they entered the trades, what their workdays look like, and how long-term careers are built through training and experience rather than student loan debt.

Earn While You Learn

At the center of the Construct Tomorrow model is the registered apprenticeship system, an approach that combines paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices earn wages from day one, with incremental increases as skills and certifications are completed.

According to workforce development data frequently cited by industry groups and training partners, union apprenticeships offer a clear economic advantage over many entry-level career paths. Participants avoid tuition debt, receive full benefits during training, and often accumulate college credits that can be applied toward associate degrees at partner institutions such as Anoka Technical College.

Union construction careers also typically include comprehensive medical coverage, pension plans, and long-term wage stability. For students weighing immediate employment against higher education, the event is designed to present apprenticeships as a third option that blends both.

Who Can Attend and How to Register

Attendance is open to high school students through coordinated school participation.

Students enrolled in public or private schools are encouraged to contact their school counselor’s office as soon as possible to confirm availability. Homeschooled students may register by listing their school as “Homeschool” or by contacting the Anoka County Job Training Center directly at 763-324-2300 for assistance.

The event will take place at the National Sports Center, located at 1700 105th Avenue NE in Blaine.

A Regional Collaboration

The Feb. 24 hiring event reflects a broad coalition of workforce, education, and government partners. Participating entities include Anoka, Hennepin, Carver, Ramsey, Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties, Minneapolis, and state agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Together, they represent a coordinated response to workforce needs that extend well beyond a single event or industry.

For many students, the day will end with dirty hands, new questions, and a clearer sense of what building a future can look like. For Minnesota’s construction sector, it is an investment in the next generation of workers who will shape the state’s roads, schools, hospitals, and homes for decades to come.

More information about this event and future opportunities is available through the Construct Tomorrow website.

MinneapoliMedia