More Georgia students are turning to the trades. Meet the ‘toolbelt generation’

More than 200 students from nine counties and 23 schools put their construction skills to the test Tuesday during the Associated General Contractors of Georgia’s skills challenge in Marietta.

Students competed in events testing skills such as hammering and welding while getting a firsthand look at potential careers in Georgia’s growing construction industry.

Zach Fields, CEO of AGC Georgia, said the event gives students an opportunity to explore careers, demonstrate their skills, and connect with potential employers while they are still in high school.

“We wanna make sure that these kids have an opportunity while they’re still in high school to, one, see what the opportunities are; two, showcase their skills; and three, connect with actual companies. All three of those things are gonna happen today,” Fields said.

Fields said more high school students are choosing construction careers early, describing them as part of the “toolbelt generation.”

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“It’s this wave of young people who are looking at their future. They wanna do something tangible with their minds and their hands, and they see this work. It’s essential, it’s rewarding, and it helps to build their communities,” Fields said.

The growing interest is also showing up in the size of the competitions. Fields said Georgia’s construction skills challenges began with a single event and have since expanded to eight across the state.

The Cobb County competition has grown so large that organizers had to move it outdoors.

For 17-year-old Ariela Vega, the competition provided a path toward a career before she even finished high school.

Vega, a national skills competition winner, said she chose the trades because she wanted a career that would make her happy while providing financial stability.

“I knew there was money in the trades, but I wanted to go into something that ultimately made me happy and that would give me stability,” Vega said.

Her national HVAC win led to an apprenticeship with MaxAir while she finishes her senior year.

“I wanna have a career in HVAC. I want to be a good technician. I want to be somebody that people can rely on,” Vega said.

Tyler Bailey of Brassfield & Gore said he has watched interest in the competitions surge in just the few years since he was a student.

“When I was in school, the competitions were big, but they weren’t this big. And just while I was in high school and in the couple of years I’ve been out, it’s grown fast. It’s awesome to see it,” Bailey said.