MILWAUKEE -- Construction is one bright spot in the job outlook in Wisconsin.
The North South Freeway project, which began this year stretches 35 miles between Milwaukee and the Illinois state line.
It's a $1.9 billion project that's going to take seven years, which is a good thing for construction workers.
"Right now, they got a union list that's kind of making it a little slow, a little hard to get into the construction field, but it's definitely something to get into with all the construction work going on in Milwaukee," said Jermaine Smith who is applying for construction work.
Smith was one of many trying to get into construction at a job fair sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
"What we're trying to do is make sure that individuals have access to opportunities if they're interested in construction careers on our projects or any other projects in the area," said Michele Carter, from the Department of Transportation.
This project and a number of other ones are funded in part by the government stimulus package. Some economic experts said that observers believed that as difficult as the states economic situation is overall, construction could pave the recovery overall because it will help to lower the unemployment rate is the key.
"Certainly road construction like the Department of Transportation is doing, housing construction, all aspects of construction tend to be the catalyst to get our overall economy moving," said Ralph Hollmon of the Milwaukee Urban League.
The North South Freeway project is expected to be complete in 2016.
