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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Hundreds of high school students from around Central New York become construction workers for a day. Thursday was the sixth annual Syracuse Construction Career Day at the New York State Fairgrounds.

And with a current shortage of construction workers, organizers saw the day was a way to show students the opportunities available to them. Students learned about the construction business, took part in hands-on activities and even operated construction equipment.

"It's better than just getting a hand-out because they can actually try to the trade itself with people who are, you know, done this their whole career. They have a lot of training, they know exactly how to show them how it works and it sparks their interest a little bit more," said Melissa Gould, Chairperson for Career Day Committee.

Members of the Operating Engineers Union were also on hand supervise students while they operated equipment and used a crane simulator.