Students Compete in Skills Challenge Ahead of Jobs
About 300 Georgia high school students tested trade skills in a challenge organized by AGC Georgia, where one student already has a job offer.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Approximately 300 high school students competed in a skills challenge organized by the Associated General Contractors of Georgia, testing plumbing, drywall, carpentry and masonry. Adairsville High School student Natalie Wade, who took first place in plumbing, has a job lined up with Atlanta-based mechanical contractor McKenney's.
Why it matters
AGC Georgia aims to connect students with employers before they leave high school, as an aging workforce makes recruiting younger workers increasingly important. Industry figures suggest construction faces a sustained shortage of new workers.
About 300 students took part, while Associated Builders and Contractors estimates the industry needs 349,000 new workers nationally in 2026. A workforce survey by AGC of America and NCCER found 42% of respondents reported project delays caused by worker shortages, and the source does not say how many participants will enter the trades.
The players
Associated General Contractors of Georgia (AGC Georgia)
The state chapter of the national construction trade association that organized the skills challenge and works to link students with employers.
McKenney's
An Atlanta-based mechanical contracting firm that has offered Adairsville High School student Natalie Wade a job.
Zach Fields
The chief executive of AGC Georgia, who said students are going to be inundated with job offers.
The details
Students competed individually and in teams, with judges checking measurements, pipe straightness and level, and understanding of the underlying math under a running timer. Wade installed plumbing for a sink and washing machine as her assignment, and her McKenney's job includes paid work and help covering trade education.
Timeline
Last year: Wade finished second at both the regional and state levels.
Before she graduates: Wade's McKenney's job begins after high school.
2026: The industry estimated need for 349,000 new workers nationally.
Industry Context
The AGC of America and NCCER workforce survey found 42% of respondents reported project delays caused by worker shortages. Georgia's skills challenge is a local effort to recruit students into trades before that gap widens further.
Students in Georgia trade programs may find employers recruiting them before graduation, with paid work and trade education support available. Job seekers entering construction can expect demand for skilled workers to remain high.
The takeaway
Trade skills training paired with early employer connections can give young workers a path into construction before they finish high school. Students exploring the trades may benefit from looking for similar challenges and apprenticeship offers in their own region.
Further reading
Explore more on Georgia jobs and career openings for context on hiring in the trades.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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