(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced Wednesday that schools can now sign up for a new program aimed at introducing students to careers in the heavy highway industry.

PennDOT’s Heavy Highway Industry Career Day program will bring industry presenters and career information to participating schools beginning this fall.

The heavy highway industry includes jobs such as construction inspector, mechanic, laborer, electrician, stonemason, welder, painter, cost estimator and surveyor.

Pennsylvania middle schools, high schools and Career and Technical Centers can register to host a career day by emailing RA-PDWORKFORCEDEV@pa.gov by clicking here. According to PennDOT, the events will include hands-on demonstrations, presentations and opportunities for students to speak with industry professionals.

State officials said the program was developed following an executive order signed by Josh Shapiro in July 2023 that created the Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program, a first-in-the-nation program which focuses on workforce development and infrastructure-related job training.

The program is one of the many ways the Shapiro Administration is investing in Pennsylvania workers to address workforce shortages across industries with real solutions and to empower Pennsylvanians to chart their own course and access the training they need to succeed.