Construction Ready to Host 2026 CareerExpo & SkillsUSA State Championships

Construction Ready will host its 2026 CareerExpo & SkillsUSA State Championships on Feb. 19–20 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The two-day event delivers hands-on learning experiences for more than 6,000 Georgia K-12 and college students while connecting them with thousands of professionals across the skilled trades.

Now in its 20th year, the CareerExpo has grown from a small gathering at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds into one of the state’s largest workforce development events for students. The 2026 edition continues that evolution with the addition of a new “World of Painting” section, expanding opportunities for students to explore specialized career paths within the construction industry.

“There is a high need for skilled workers across Georgia,” says Construction Ready President and CEO Scott Shelar. “More workers are retiring than are entering the workforce. Closing this skills gap and educating more people about careers in the skilled professions is Construction Ready’s primary goal.”

More than 9,000 students and educators are expected to attend, including 6,000 K-12 and college students from across Georgia. Attendees will engage with more than 1,200 teachers, parents, school counselors, and administrators and connect directly with professionals from more than 300 leading companies about careers in construction, building and energy-related fields.

CareerExpo 2026 also will feature the SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships. The competition allows students to showcase their skills across a wide range of construction-related disciplines, with winners advancing to the SkillsUSA National Championships in Atlanta from June 1–5, 2026.

Industry data underscores the urgency of events like CareerExpo. A recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America shows that 90% of construction firms have open hourly craft positions and 88% have open salaried roles, with architects, project managers, electricians, plumbers, welders, and equipment operators among the hardest positions to fill.

Thanks to the support of Construction Ready’s industry partners, the 2026 CareerExpo is free for all students and schools. Dozens of colleges and universities representing eight career clusters will be onsite, including Architecture and Construction, Energy, STEM, Transportation, and more.

Event Details

When: Thursday, Feb. 19, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall A

Schools can register HERE.
Learn more via this video from the 2025 CareerExpo.