WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — More than 800 high school students from across Western North Carolina explored careers in construction Tuesday during the 2026 Construction Career Day at the Smoky Mountain Event Center.
Hosted by the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board and presented by Vannoy Construction, the event brought together more than 60 businesses and organizations to showcase opportunities in the skilled trades.
Students, primarily juniors and seniors, rotated through hands-on stations featuring heavy equipment operation, surveying, HVAC, electrical work, plumbing, design and masonry. Many participants are already enrolled in career and technical education programs.
Organizers said the goal is to expose students to the wide range of career pathways available in construction and to strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline.
“This is about awareness and access,” organizers said, noting a growing emphasis on apprenticeships. Several community colleges and private employers at the event highlighted established apprenticeship programs as a direct path into the industry.
The event also underscored collaboration among workforce development boards, educators, colleges and universities and private-sector employers — what organizers described as a foundation for a future regional sector partnership in construction trades.
For some students, the experience offered a first look at the field from a new perspective — literally.
“It was pretty cool,” said 16-year-old Elmer Acevedo after riding in the bucket of a utility truck. “Everything was beautiful up there.”
At another station, Western Carolina University student Tanner Drum demonstrated a robotic dog used on job sites. The Boston Dynamics “Spot” robot — nicknamed “Catabot” — can perform automated site walks, capture images, scan environments using lidar and generate 3D models.
Drum, a construction management major set to graduate in 2027, said the technology is already being used in the field, including by companies such as Duke Energy.
On job sites, the robot can read gauges, inspect equipment, manipulate valves and carry tools, he said. Drum added that he and other students recently used the technology to scan creek beds in Burnsville following Tropical Storm Helene, helping assess changes in terrain.
The demonstration drew steady interest from students, many of whom asked questions about how emerging technology is reshaping construction careers.
The event comes as demand for skilled labor remains strong. Preliminary data show the unemployment rate in the Asheville metropolitan area was about 3.2 percent in early 2026, reflecting a tight labor market and ongoing need for trained workers.
Organizers said events like Construction Career Day are critical to connecting students with career opportunities and ensuring the region can meet future workforce demands.