A local group is working with high school students in the Rio Grande Valley to build a pipeline of skilled construction workers as the industry faces a shortage of labor.

Roy Perez, who works in construction, said his passion for the trade started young. He said a visit to a job site with his father sparked his interest and set him on his career path.

Now Perez wants others to get the same early exposure he did.

"Before you can do any of that, you gotta have the opportunity," Perez said.

He said the industry needs more people in key roles, "such as framers, concrete guys, and electricians."

Starting this week, high school students in select school districts will get hands-on experience at actual construction sites.

The nonprofit RGV Lead recently signed an agreement with the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association to get students certified in certain trades, potentially leading to jobs right after graduation.

Maricela de Leon, the group’s executive director, said there is a gap between what students learn and what employers need.

"What they're learning in the classroom will not be aligned with what the industry is asking of them upon high school graduation," de Leon said.

She said the goal is to prepare students to step directly into the workforce.

"So that they can go into the workforce and work with all of those construction companies that need that assistance on the job sites," de Leon said.

Perez said a strong workforce is critical as the Valley continues to grow.

"With land comes construction, and if we don't have the workers and if we don't have the labor to do it, we're not going to grow," Perez said.

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