Port of Tacoma employees spent a day with more than 2,000 high school students to give them insights into the wide range of job opportunities the port industry offers. Port staff set up a variety of hands-on experiences for students at the annual Pierce County Career Day, held Nov. 17 at the Washington State Fair Showplex in Puyallup.

Students from more than 40 schools visited with more than 120 exhibitors in the construction, manufacturing, utilities and transportation industries.

Staff members from the port’s security, human resources, environmental and maintenance departments helped students try out activities ranging from driving a spike on a railroad tie and bending electrical pipe to lifting a railroad tie with a backhoe and using robotic security surveillance equipment.

Organized by WorkForce Central’s Construction Partnership, the event is the largest career fair in Washington state. The partnership was created in 2002 to help address the 21st century hiring needs in a wide range of industries.

Pierce County Career Day gives students hands-on experience