More than 150 Luxemburg-Casco High School students from Grades 9-12 took part in Trades Career Day on March 26. Multiple industries within the Trades were on hand to guide students through hands-on activities and to provide information on potential high-earning careers within the field.

Career exploration is an important aspect of the K-12 educational experience, according to Mike Snowberry, learning services director for the

Luxemburg-Casco School District. “We strive to help our students find their passion and identify potential career paths prior to graduation, and Trades Career Day is an experiential way to do that.”

The skilled trades sector in Wisconsin in 2025 continues to experience rapid growth, especially with the increased reliance on technology. As existing employees retire, employers are actively seeking replacements to fill the next-generation workforce.

The American Welding Society projects that more than 320,000 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, adding that an average of 80,000 welding jobs will be filled annually in the U.S. over the next five years.

According to the Associated Building and Contractors of Wisconsin, the average age of an apprentice has moved from age 28 to age 25, with many beginning at age 18, as more young people enter the Trades at an early age.

Luxemburg-Casco High School has the highest Youth Apprenticeship participation rate in Wisconsin with 58 percent of eligible students engaged in the program. Last May, 36 members of the L-C Class of 2024 immediately entered the workforce, many with their YA employer.

At this week’s event, L-C students were exposed to the industries of six different Trade groups through hands-on activities, including pipe threading, pipe welding, demonstration of soldering, and switch wiring.

The students also heard directly from representatives of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 3, 9 & 11; Carpenters Local 1146; Engineers Local 139; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 158; Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) 18.

Groups of 10-15 students spent 30 minutes with three different Trade groups over the course of each 90-minute class period.

“We can’t thank the local Trades organizations enough for participating in Trades Career Day,” says Will

Simonar, technical education teacher at LCHS. “It really gives our students the opportunity to confirm if a career in the Trades is something they might be interested in. It’s one thing to hear what work in the Trades is like – it’s another to actually experience yourself. I expect this event to help drive a lot of positive conversations, both at school and at home.”

Which, of course, is the ultimate goal: providing better clarity on career choices for L-C students