“The dirtiest man on TV” is coming to Central Oregon.

Mike Rowe, creator and host of the hit series “Dirty Jobs,” will take the stage for a moderated Q&A during the Associated General Contractors‘ Oregon-Columbia chapter’s summer convention at Sunriver Resort. The three-day event, presented by SAIF, will take place Aug. 7-9.

Through the show, Rowe has showcased the tireless efforts of countless workers in essential industries – from construction to steel manufacturing to garbage collection. In addition, he serves as CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which aims to “make work cool again.” The foundation promotes skilled trades and crafts, emphasizing the value of hard work and its potential for fulfillment and self-worth.

The construction industry, like many others, is facing significant challenges due to a labor shortage. Plus, economists in Oregon predict a 16 percent increase in the demand for construction workers over the next decade. This projection has raised concerns about the industry’s future if no action is taken.

Getting people into the construction workforce is one of the industry’s biggest issues – and one that is not improving but rather worsening, AGC summer convention chair and INLINE Commercial Construction principal Brandon Flint said.

The Q&A with Rowe will take place at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8. He’ll address the pressing workforce crisis facing the construction industry and other essential sectors while engaging with the audience.

“We were sitting around the table and it’s like who better to deliver that message than the international figurehead himself Mike Rowe from ‘Dirty Jobs,’” Flint said. “So, we wanted him to come in and not just highlight the issues in the Northwest. We feel that bringing him here will really let people know that we’re serious about it.”

Construction professionals in Oregon have been actively engaging with young people and educators to inform them of career opportunities as well as the skills required for long-term success, Flint said. Career fairs, classroom visits, organized field trips, and mentorships are being used to inspire the next generation of workers. However, a disconnect persists between outsiders’ perceptions of the trades and the reality.

“There’s not enough educational facilities or schools that are really telling people that the trades are an extremely viable career path and that it’s possible to make six figures as a tradesperson,” Flint said.

In addition to participating in the Q&A, Rowe will debut his own brand of whiskey in a private tasting event immediately following the speaking engagement. This will give attendees a chance to unwind and network with industry peers.

Register now for the convention at .

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Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. hosted its 26th annual Career Fair last Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at the NECA/IBEW Local 48 Electrical Training Center in northeast Portland. More than 1,700 women high school students from 75 Oregon high schools attended the fair Friday, while the general public was invited to check out the 100-plus demonstrations and booths hosted by construction and skilled trades contractors and public safety agencies including the Portland Fire Bureau and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. Check out this gallery of photos from Friday’s session, which featured young women engaged in searching out possible careers in the trades. Click here to read about the event.

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