More than 1,800 high school students from across Northwest Florida will trade textbooks for heavy equipment this week as the Florida Department of Transportation hosts the 6th Annual Northwest Florida Construction Career Days at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds.
- The two-day event, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Thursday, Feb. 19, offers students an interactive introduction to careers in transportation and construction industries — complete with the chance to operate excavators, learn bridge inspection techniques and explore fields from paving to engineering.
With billions of dollars in construction activity planned across the region over the next decade and a growing demand for entry-level workers, FDOT District Three has made workforce development a priority. Construction Career Days serves as a key part of that effort, connecting students with meaningful career paths that offer long-term benefits while positively impacting their communities.
Students from seven Northwest Florida counties will participate, including those from Okaloosa and Walton counties along with Santa Rosa, Escambia, Holmes, Washington and Jackson counties.
The event draws juniors and seniors who can explore career paths while engaging directly with representatives from FDOT, engineering firms and contractors actively hiring in the region.
- Beyond the hands-on demonstrations, the event carries financial incentives for participating students. High school juniors and seniors who attend — whether in person or virtually — are eligible for monetary awards through a scholarship fund supporting graduates who pursue college, trade school, vocational education or direct entry into the workforce.
For students who are 18 or older, the opportunity extends even further: they can complete job applications with participating companies on site, potentially turning a field trip into immediate employment prospects.
The event takes place at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds, 8700 Randy Brown Road in Milton. While Construction Career Days is not open to the general public, it represents a significant investment in workforce development for a region where construction and infrastructure projects continue to expand.
More information is available here or on social media @nwflccd.
