The Nevada Department of Education Celebrates Careers in Construction

October 28, 2021

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education (NDE or Department) in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (GOWINN) recognized October as Careers in Construction Month, encouraging parents, students, and educators to learn about construction career opportunities.

“Connecting students to high-skill, high-demand career opportunities, including careers in construction, is a key way for NDE to meet our goal of graduating students who are future-ready and globally prepared,” said Superintendent Ebert. “All year round, we celebrate our career and technical education students in Construction Programs of Study, and recognize the hard work of the educators who bring these programs to life.”

The construction industry is the fourth largest sector in Nevada, yet has the highest projected numbers of job openings from 2020 to 2022. Governor Steve Sisolak proclaimed October 2021 as Careers in Construction Month to increase public awareness and appreciation of construction craft professionals and the entire construction workforce.

“Construction is a primary industry in our State, employing more than 92,000 Nevadans,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “Especially in this phase of economic recovery and rebuilding, I am proud that this celebration and the resources provided by NDE are helping our students connect with career opportunities in this industry.”

On October 15, Construction Day was celebrated in Las Vegas with a workforce event at the College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne Campus. On this day, over 1,000 middle and high school students attended an outdoor expo showcasing career opportunities in the construction industry, public works, engineering field, architecture, and other related fields.

Nevada students have the opportunity to participate in Construction Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs year-round. In the 2020-2021 school year, over 4,600 students participated in one or more construction-related programs of study at more than 37 schools located in nine school districts across Nevada.

Throughout the month, NDE has recognized and celebrated Construction Week through several opportunities available to students and educators Statewide. Additionally, several resources are available to empower students and educators to explore and connect with career opportunities.

Nepris is an online platform for classroom career exploration opportunities. With Nepris, Nevada’s teachers can invite industry professionals to engage their classes virtually and customize the online experience to align with instruction. The platform is available to Nevada educators and students as of fall 2021; educators are encouraged to learn more with Nepris and get started by setting up an implementation planning meeting.

Lifeworks is a Statewide work-based learning hub for students looking for information and opportunities such as registered apprenticeships, internships, career and technical education programs, career exploration, and more. Additionally, the website informs employers about how to get involved in work-based learning and how to create an apprenticeship or internship program while also helping educators with information regarding career and technical education, in-demand occupations, and how to request a classroom speaker with industry experience to meet with students. Students and educators can get started at the Lifeworks website.

For more information on career and workforce preparation, visit NDE’s Career and Technical Education Webpage from the Office of Career Readiness, Adult Learning, and Education Options.  

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ABOUT THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada’s 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators.