Construction Trades Take Center Stage at SLATE Career Fair

Date Posted: September 11, 2025

Posted In: News, Workforce,

The SLATE Missouri Job Center will host its Apprenticeships & Trades Career Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 9:00 AM to noon at 1520 Market Street, bringing together more than 30 employers, training providers, and unions to connect job seekers with pathways to stable, long-term careers.

Construction will be a major focus, with opportunities through programs such as Missouri Works Initiative, MOKAN, and SLATE’s YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship program, which each year helps more than 50 young people gain skills that lead to union careers as carpenters, electricians, iron workers, masons, and other trades. Confirmed participants include IBEW Local 1, Mid-America Carpenters, Missouri Women in Trades, and St. Louis Community College.

The fair also highlights SLATE’s broader role in workforce development, with apprenticeships and training available in healthcare, information technology, and transportation. These programs prepare job seekers for careers ranging from Certified Nursing Assistants and software developers to commercial drivers, all offering family-sustaining wages.

The event is part of SLATE’s 50th anniversary and its ongoing response to the economic challenges following May’s tornado, which left many St. Louis residents unemployed. “This fair is about opportunity for individuals, families, and our entire community to invest in our people and help rebuild their careers,” said Connie Johnson, executive director of SLATE.

For more information, visit https://stl.works/ or call 314-589-8000.